Sergio Perez, on a mission for that sweet second spot in the World Championship, turned to Max Verstappen for some teammate support during the Brazilian Grand Prix. But here’s the kicker – Verstappen decided to throw caution to the wind. He went all out, finishing sixth, while Perez trailed behind in seventh. Result? Drama in the Red Bull camp. Why did Verstappen play hardball? Well, that’s the million-dollar question. Rumor has it he might’ve been ticked off about Perez’s Monaco crash, thinking it was a sneaky move to mess with other drivers’ laps.
Now, fast-forward to the 2023 edition. Verstappen’s the reigning World Champion, practically swimming in gold stars, and Perez is hanging on to second place, with Lewis Hamilton eyeing him from 20 points behind.
So, in the pre-race banter at Interlagos, someone threw Verstappen a curveball: Will he be a better team player this time? His response? A classic “Good question.”
Verstappen spilled the beans, saying it shouldn’t always be about him stacking up points. He’s pretty confident in Checo (Perez), thinking the Red Bull ride is, on average, faster. He also let slip that last year, they didn’t exactly strategize the support plan before diving into the race weekend chaos. Crossing fingers, they won’t find themselves in a déjà vu mess – Verstappen figures it’s better for everyone.
Now, shifting gears to Verstappen’s vibes heading into this race weekend. Last year was a bit of a bummer for Red Bull, with Mercedes’ George Russell nabbing the win ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen spilled the tea, admitting he’s feeling a bit jittery. The new sprint format throws in an extra twist, making it a challenge to stay ahead of the game.
