Red Bull's treatment of Sergio Perez at the Spanish GP is simply inexcusable

When Verstappen's car was having issues with the DRS, why was it that Checo was not even given a crack at winning the race for Red Bull?

Sergio Perez in a file photo. (Image: Twitter)
By Nilavro Ghosh | May 23, 2022 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

For the two seasons running, Sergio Perez has been the ultimate team player for Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen, so when he has the faster of the two cars on track, why does he not get a crack at the race win? One of the main reasons why Max Verstappen is world champion today is Checo. In the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, Lewis Hamilton had sailed well clear of Verstappen before he was engaged in an epic duel with Perez. Checo not only held up the seven-time world champion, but also ensured his teammate got a tow as he chased after the championship. So on Sunday, when Verstappen’s car was having issues with the DRS, why was it that Checo was not even given a crack at winning the race for Red Bull?

At the time, Leclerc was still in the race and leading. Lap 25 saw Mercedes’ George Russell in second with Verstappen and Perez running in fourth and fifth respectively. As his team attempted a remote diagnosis, Verstappen remained on Russell’s tail, his difficulties with DRS persisting. The Dutchman was breathing down Russell’s neck on lap 24, almost passing him at Turn 1, but Russell held firm at Turn 3. Even though Verstappen was within striking distance on Lap 25, the DRS would not open and provide him with that extra burst of speed. Though they were near to colliding at Turn 3, the following turns saw another incredible display of racecraft between the two.

‘Get Max out of the way’

“Get… Max out of the way so I [can] overtake quickly,” Checo stated on the team radio and when it was answered with “Copy Checo,” many believed Perez to win his first ever Spanish GP. It took a while before Verstappen finally pitted and within a matter of moments, Perez had overtaken Russell. He was clearly the faster car on track at the time. After Leclerc’s power unit gave way, it was the Mexican leading a Spanish GP for the first time in his career.

Equal opportunities?

Before the 2022 season commenced, team principal Christian Horner said that both his Red Bull drivers would get equal treatment. “I expect them to push each other very hard as they have for the last few years and to do their best for the team. We’ll be giving both of them equal opportunity, they’ve always enjoyed that whilst they’ve raced together,” the Brit had said. Clearly, he did not stick to his word.

Read More – Spanish GP 2022: Fernando Alonso’s P20 to P9 masterclass in Barcelona

When Perez was in the lead and Max was in P2, it did not take a moment before engineer’s informed the former on the radio that he had to give up his place. It can be said with near certainty that had it been Max in P1 and Perez in P2 with the faster car thanks to the new tyres, Red Bull would have been comfortable to keep things as is. Checo’s dissatisfaction was visible at the end of the race when he said to his enginner, “We will talk later.”

Verstappen wins in Barcelona

Max Verstappen won the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix in a race that saw pole-sitter Charles Leclerc retire from a commanding lead. Sergio Perez finished second for Red Bull, securing the team’s second one-two finish of the season, while George Russell finished third for Mercedes after a thrilling battle with eventual winner Verstappen. Huge gusts entering Turn 4 prompted both Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen to drive off track and slip down the order early in the race, despite the scorching temperatures. By Lap 22, Leclerc had a good lead and a free pit stop, and it appeared that Ferrari would win easily – until Leclerc’s engine failed on Lap 27.