Checo? I don’t think it should matter to me if he gets points, says Verstappen

Among the drivers on the Formula One grid, there is no one who likes to do the team’s bidding, but almost all of them will eventually do it anyway. However, during last year’s Brazilian Grand Prix there was one who refused to do so, Max Verstappen.

The now three-time world champion controversially didn’t concede sixth place on the track to Sergio Pérez, his Red Bull teammate at the time. But it was only sixth place after all, so why the team orders?

The answer is simple. Verstappen was by then assured of the world title and had nothing to worry about. Pérez, on the other hand, needed every point to beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc for second place in the drivers’ championship.

This drama led to some pretty intense tension between the two drivers of the Austrian stable. And while the official reason why the Dutchman refused to let the Mexican go ahead of him was never revealed.

The team issued a statement saying that everything had been resolved, and that they accepted Max’s reasons for disobeying team direction. A year later, a similar situation could happen again.

Verstappen is the world champion and Pérez is again fighting for second place, but this time with Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. So will Max be more willing this year? It seems not.

At Thursday’s press conference ahead of the Brazilian GP, he was asked the same question, to which he replied, according to the WTF1 website, “I don’t think it should matter to me if Checo gets the points. But I’m sure he can stay ahead of Lewis, because we have a faster car.”

“As for last year’s race, we didn’t discuss it enough before it. But hopefully we won’t be in the same situation again. It will be better for everybody,” Verstappen added.

And what about Sergio?

He has a slightly different take on the situation. “We haven’t talked about it, but if it was necessary, I’m sure Max would help me,” said the Mexican.

A bit of a naive idea from Pérez, who even after last year’s experience is still hoping for some support from his teammate.

Source: WTF1, Twitter/X