Perez now satisfied after Red Bull internal talks

Editor
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez follow each other. Spain May 2022.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez on track together during the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix. Barcelona, May 2022.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez has revealed how his “internal talks” with Red Bull turned out after the Spanish Grand Prix.

Sergio Perez has said he’s satisfied with how his talks with Red Bull turned out, after calling for “internal talks” after team orders went against him during the race in Barcelona.

Perez, who found himself on track ahead of Max Verstappen when the reigning World Champion made a mistake at Turn 4, allowed Verstappen to pass him to attack Mercedes’ George Russell for second place.

With Perez committed to a two-stop strategy, the Mexican pitted and, due to Verstappen not being able to pass Russell, was able to latch back onto the fight later in the race. For his two-stop strategy to work, he asked to be released past Verstappen – a request which was denied.

With Perez finishing second to Verstappen after the Dutch driver’s three-stop strategy proved the superior path, Perez said afterward that he’d sit down with Red Bull for “internal talks” about how he had been treated during the race.

Perez was asked about the situation during the press conference in Monaco, where he said he’s moved on from the issue.

“We spoke after the race. At the end of the day, it was clear that the three-stop was the way to go. We both agreed, and we moved on,” he said.

“It’s a great atmosphere at Red Bull, and we have a great momentum [behind us]. So, at the end of the day, it was a great team result.”

 

Having been asked to give up position to Verstappen, only to not have the favour returned by Red Bull as the race played out, Perez said that it was a situation that hadn’t been pre-arranged coming into the 2022 season.

“Obviously, when you’re in the car, you have certain information and you know that the team has a wider picture,” he said.

“In the car, [and] at the time, it felt like we could have done a better job, especially in the second stint. [In terms of] giving it a better shot, a better opportunity to the two-stop strategy to see if it could work or not.

“But, it was clear that the three-stop was the way forward. It was better to go that way.

“We spoke after the race and it’s all clear and we all agree that we could have done a better job in that stint to give a better shot to both strategies to see which one worked.”

The Mexican went on to reveal that there’s no arrangement in place that forces him to play second fiddle to Verstappen.

“They made it clear that I have the full support of the team to see me winning.”