Max Verstappen and Perez are no longer team-mates – Red Bull in a mess

Horner opens up on Red Bull's 'barren spell' amid Mercedes dominance

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Max Verstappen’s 2023 title bid may be handed a major dent by his own team-mate as tensions rise at Red Bull. The two stars have clashed before but a tetchy moment in only the second race of the season is an ominous sign for things to come.

Without Perez, Verstappen risks being exposed to a fast-charging Aston Martin, Ferrari or Mercedes in the second half of the season when the team’s budget cap penalty begins to take hold. Verstappen has relied on Perez to get him over the line before (Abu Dhabi 2021) and a feud with the Mexican could later backfire.

The former F1 star turned TV pundit Timo Glock has claimed Perez will not help the Dutchman as he will feel he can also challenge for the title. However, Glock feels this will “lead to a fight” between the two stars which could risk blowing up into a civil war.

Glock told Sky Deutschland: “Verstappen’s fastest lap, which he grabbed on the last lap, will again lead to internal discussions. Sergio Perez will not get involved in any topic in which he will have to support Verstappen in the future. I’m sure of that because the Mexican sees his chance to fight for the title with Verstappen.

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“This will lead to a fight between the two. We can expect that there will be friction. Red Bull is certainly already aware of this. Perez showed that he is strong and has very good pace in the race.

“At the same time, Verstappen is someone who doesn’t allow himself to be told and does what he thinks is right. The team can say whatever they want.” The pair appeared to clash moments after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as it emerged Verstappen had ignored a team request to secure the fastest lap.

Perez looked puzzled after he learned the Dutchman had gone against the team’s wishes to stick to a certain pace to have a go at beating Perez’s best time. The reigning champion took the prize on the final lap which gave him an extra point.

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It ensures Verstappen leads the championship ahead of the Australian Grand Prix instead of the Mexican. After the duo had words in the cool-down room, Perez told reporters that he would demand an investigation into the incident.

He said: “They told me I had the fastest lap and to keep the pace at a certain pace. I thought the communication was the same to Max, I think we need to review the different information and I just couldn’t push then in the end.” The issue comes just months after the two Red Bull drivers clashed at last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix in a team orders row.

Verstappen purposefully ignored instructions to let the 33-year-old through on the final lap to score vital championship points. Perez hit out at the 25-year-old, claiming his display showed who Verstappen “really is”.

However, Perez has just two more seasons on his Red Bull deal meaning it’s time to get feisty. If there is no extension beyond 2024, Perez has no incentive to help Verstappen and may purposefully derail his team-mate to give himself a sniff of clinching the crown.

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