The experience in Brazil between Red Bull, Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez has given rise to statements of all kinds in recent days. The Dutchman did not let the Mexican pass when Max no longer plays anything and Pérez can still be runner-up.
This has caused the team itself to issue a release this Thursday morning to try to clarify the situation and reduce the tension.
They begin by acknowledging that they failed in decision-making: “As a team we made some mistakes in brazil. We had not foreseen the situation that developed on the last lap and had not agreed a strategy for such a scenario before the race.”
They ensure that They warned Verstappen late to make the change of position: “Unfortunately, Max was only informed in the final corner of the request to relinquish the position without transmitting all the necessary information. This put Max, who has always been an open and fair team player, in a compromising situation with little time to react, which was not our intention.”
“After the race, Max spoke openly and honestly, allowing both pilots to resolve any outstanding issues or concerns. The team accepts Max’s reasoning, the conversation was a personal matter that will remain private among the team and no further comment will be made,” he continues.
The second part of the communiqué focuses on the hate comments received on social networks: “The events that followed from the point of view of social networks are completely unacceptable. The online abusive behavior towards Max, Checo, the team and their respective families is shocking and sad And sadly, it’s something that we as a sport have to deal with with depressing regularity.”
“There is no place for it in careers or in society as a whole and we have to do it and be better. At the end of the day, this is a sport, we are here to compete. The death threats, the hate mail, the vitriol towards extended family members is deplorable,” the statement continued.
“We value inclusion and want a safe space for everyone to work and enjoy our sport. The abuse has to stop“, he concludes.
What did Max and Pérez say after the race?
The tension was maximum right at the end of the test. After the engineer Verstappen told him up to three times to let ‘Czech‘ and not to do so, the Dutchman said the following: “I told you that I was not going to do it“.
The Mexican pilot said on the radio about his partner that he had shown who he really is. Furthermore, he later even said that if the two-time Formula 1 world champion had two World Cups, it was thanks to him.