Opinion
It is only apt that on the tenth anniversary of the infamous Multi-21 saga that rocked Formula One and Red Bull Racing that again tension is building inside the pressure cooker that is the multiple constructor’s world champions.
Sergio Perez led Red Bull’s second one-two finish of the season so far; going on from pole position to lose the lead on the opening lap to the rejuvenated Fernando Alonso and then retake the lead and go onto win.
A phenomenal achievement for the veteran Mexican, who has established his reputation as a street circuit specialist. Though as egregious as former racer Jos Verstappen’s Parc Fermé reaction or non-reaction was to Perez’s win, the catalyst for such Sergio’s strong result goes back to a transmission problem for Max Verstappen during qualifying.
The two-time world champion’s run in Q2 came to a grinding halt when a transmission issue was detected. This confined the Dutchman to start the race from a lowly fifteenth and by Lap 8 of 50 in the grand prix, Verstappen was already in the top ten.
Eventually racing his way into second behind his teammate, Verstappen in conversation with his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase fired back ‘it concerns me,’ when being denied information regarding the fastest lap of the race. That extra championship point currently being held by Perez, who’s own engineer Hugh Bird was instructing him to target particular lap times.
Lap times that it turns out that Verstappen was going quicker than, despite the 5.3-second finishing margin. But it was the insinuated paranoia, that while having led the majority of the race and Perez being set for a fifth win in Formula One that the Red Bull team famous for being at the whim of their world champions, were going to somehow snatch that from the 33-year old.
Verstappen, who still retained the lead of the championship having stripped the fastest lap from his teammate elucidated after the race his overall displeasure at having been put on the back foot with the transmission problem and then ultimately finishing second to his teammate.
“In general, the whole feeling in the team, everyone is happy but personally, I’m not happy,” said the 25-year old. “Because I’m not here to be second, especially when are working very hard also back at the factory to make sure that you arrive here in a good state, and basically making sure that everything is spot on.”
There are the sort of words that echo some of the sport’s greats before Verstappen and the similar ruthlessness that the likes of Michael Schumacher or even Ayrton Senna would display. This is what makes the young Dutchman fits the mould of being above just a very good driver, as he won’t tolerate being second best.
But when there’s Perez, who could be in the twilight of his lengthy career and currently on the first year of a fresh two-year deal with Red Bull and shared his desire to be world champion, in what now is a deleted tweet – there is all the makings for further conflict.
Given that Red Bull look peerless this season and we could be in for a one-horse title race, without Ferrari or Mercedes to challenge them for the championship; would it be possible to see Verstappen go toe-to-toe with Perez? The answer is blatantly obvious, but that won’t stop any of the drama associated with it.
Even when Verstappen had the 2022 title sewn up and the team’s desire was to see a first ever one-two in the standings for its drivers – the Dutchman cruelly defied a team order in São Paulo to deny Perez fourth to get extra points needed to beat Charles Leclerc.
Perez is an upgrade on the likes of Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon, who were quickly and ruthlessly discarded of when they couldn’t deliver results consistently – but he’s not the Verstappen-beating type of driver. Particularly in the lion’s den.
And before anyone says that Daniel (Ricciardo) could do it, there is a clear line through that too, upon casting minds back to 2018 when the Aussie left Red Bull in the first place.
It is clear that in the same car, in the same team with the same Red Bull system that oversaw the Multi-21 controversy that a Perez will never outlast the lion king over an entire season.
As sad as it is, the Mexican who was given a lifeline in 2021 by Red Bull, may just have to be content with adding more race wins to his tally and being part of more constructor’s championship wins.
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