Sergio Perez has brought new clarity to the Max Verstappen Red Bull controversy, revealing details about the infamous team orders dispute during the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix. Discussing the sequence of events and mindsets involved, Perez explained what he believes lay behind one of Red Bull Racing’s most debated moments.
Perez Explains Tensions in the Red Bull Team During 2022
Perez joined Red Bull Racing for the 2021 season, positioned as a key supporting driver in a squad centered around Max Verstappen. From the outset, his role was to assist Verstappen in maximizing points, ensuring Red Bull secured both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships. However, early friction surfaced at that year’s Spanish Grand Prix: while leading, Perez was asked to step aside for Verstappen, a command he described as “very unfair” over the radio. Red Bull characterized this as a necessary tactical move, and Perez complied for the sake of the team.
As the 2022 season neared its close, Red Bull had already clinched both championship titles. Still, memories of earlier flashpoints remained. At the penultimate race at São Paulo, Red Bull instructed Verstappen to let Perez reclaim sixth place, aiding Perez in his battle with Charles Leclerc for second overall. Verstappen refused, declaring on the team radio that he had been clear about his stance previously.
Perez, reflecting from his current drive with Cadillac, shared his perspective on Verstappen’s behavior, particularly that team orders incident and its fallout.
“Max is a mentally super strong driver,” he said on the Cracks Podcast. “He has a lot of confidence in himself. He has impressive talent, he’s focused on the sport, on racing, on being the best driver, and he’s a huge asset for the team. He’s a great leader on the team, but I think his temper is also a weakness. When things go wrong, he has a hard time dealing with it. Well, what happened in Barcelona. It gets blocked, he has that aspect that. I think if he didn’t have it, he wouldn’t be Max either.”
The controversy at São Paulo dealt a blow to Perez’s championship prospects. He finished just three points behind Charles Leclerc for second in the standings and remarked that the episode “showed who Max really is.”
“Something happens with Max. Max is an excellent person, but something happens to him when he’s in the car, he transforms. He’s a different person. And I think that in this race he had something inside him that he never let out because we all talked about all the problems that year, we discussed them and we thought it was behind us, right? The whole team thought so. So we were all surprised that he brought it out at that moment,” he added (57:29 onwards).
How Red Bull Dealt With the Aftermath
Following the incident, Red Bull addressed the matter internally. The organization acknowledged that missteps had been made but kept any disciplinary or further details private, as Verstappen and Perez maintained a united front in public. Their professional relationship endures, with Verstappen expressing positive sentiments about Perez since his return to the grid. The saga has become symbolic of the intense dynamics that dominate top-level Formula One teams, especially when the stakes are high and team orders intersect with individual drive for success.
Looking Back: Perez Describes Challenges as Verstappen’s Red Bull Teammate
Perez’s memories of his Red Bull stint reflect not only on isolated disputes but the demanding atmosphere that defined his years with the squad. From 2021 through 2024, Perez started 90 races for the Milton Keynes-based team. He secured five victories, made 29 podium appearances, and has been Verstappen’s longest-serving teammate—supporting the Dutchman through four world championship triumphs and helping Red Bull clinch two constructors’ titles.
Despite these accomplishments, Perez often found the role grueling, marked by significant pressure and scrutiny. He regularly faced comparisons to Verstappen, who was widely viewed as Red Bull’s cornerstone driver. Discussing the emotional toll and his methods for coping with fame and fluctuating performances, Perez described the atmosphere as unforgiving.
“It was all temporary. We had the best team. Unfortunately, everything fell apart. We had the team to dominate the sport for the next 10 years, I think. And unfortunately, it’s all over now, but I was on the best team, on a tough team, right? Because Being Max’s teammate is already incredibly difficult, but being Max’s teammate at Red Bull is the worst job in Formula 1, by far.” (47:55 onwards)
Perez Embarks on New Path After Red Bull
With his Red Bull chapter closed, Perez has shifted his focus to a fresh start with Cadillac after a season out of Formula One. Now removed from the constant media glare and intense intra-team dynamics, he pursues the next phase of his racing career. Meanwhile, Verstappen continues his dominant run at Milton Keynes, and Red Bull Racing presses on, the 2022 controversy remaining an example of how internal rivalries and strong personalities can shape the course of an F1 season.
