Verstappen essentially got revenge on Sergio Perez, for an incident that happened months ago, by refusing a Red Bull order to let him pass late to help Perez’s bid to finish second in the championship. Although this was not as high-profile as the ‘Multi 21’ row between Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber in 2013, there were echoes of that infamous incident as Verstappen rejected Red Bull’s mandate. Unlike Vettel’s decision against Webber in Malaysia nine years ago, this was not to win a grand prix. But it was another case of Red Bull’s lead driver going rogue – and when Verstappen revealed after the race that it was payback for an earlier incident, the full picture became clear. And it’s pretty impressive. Based on what Verstappen said after the race, he still considers him and Perez. Verstappen says if Perez needs his help in Abu Dhabi this coming weekend, then Verstappen will oblige. Red Bull has also made it clear that it expects this. Is the case closed? Well, first, let’s see if Verstappen actually helps if needed. But beyond that, there is an unnecessary threat to an otherwise very effective Red Bull dynamic as a result of this. It was a short-sighted move by Verstappen because it is clear that Perez has had his faith in the team and his team-mate shaken. When asked by The Race afterwards if we should expect it to be any different in Abu Dhabi, Perez said that would be the case not just for the finale but for the sequel as well. “We will always put the team before our interests,” Perez said. It is important for you to feel that you have an equal opportunity in the group, we suggested. “Yeah, sure,” he replied. “Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense to me.” Now, Verstappen doesn’t necessarily have to care about whether Perez feels valued at Red Bull. , But he should keep in mind that he would benefit from having his teammate on the sidelines. Other champions have recognized the need to cultivate harmony in the past, whether it was giving up wins as Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell once did for their support act teammates or the simple act of giving back a place as Lewis Hamilton did for Valtteri Bottas in Hungary in 2017. Even Nico Rosberg, at the height of his rivalry with Hamilton at Mercedes, stepped aside during the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix, despite the fact that it meant a direct hit to his own championship lead – because that was the best thing for Mercedes. The point is that there are many examples from history – recent and past – of drivers putting their self-interest aside to help the bigger picture. Verstappen’s individualistic act will not qualify as one of them. He will get away with the sense that he is the center of the Red Bull universe and generally what is good for him is good for the team. But Verstappen will need Perez’s help at times. Just think of the crucial role Perez played in Abu Dhabi last year in holding off Verstappen’s title rival Lewis Hamilton. And Verstappen must know he can count on Perez when those moments come. For now, Perez is buying into the team game perfectly. He knows his role, has contributed to an environment that gets the best out of Verstappen and has always respected the team’s orders even when he didn’t agree with them. But to use his own words, if he thinks it makes no sense for him to be in a team where he risks being undermined even when helping has no real cost to Verstappen, then why should he continue to buy into that ethos? This is the danger that Verstappen has needlessly created. Keeping the team order would show Perez, Red Bull and the wider world that Verstappen can also play the team game. And it would have cost so little to Verstappen, for whom sixth or seventh place makes zero difference given that he wrapped up the world championship weeks ago and has broken the record for most wins in a single season. That would be such a cheap way to curry favor. Verstappen only traded it to prove a point, to a team that is already his, to a teammate that is already inferior.
