Did Checo Deserve the Win in Spain?
Red Bull driver Sergio Perez was asked by his team to slow down and allow Max Verstappen to have the lead
Red Bull driver Sergio “Checo” Perez set the fastest lap of the race last Sunday in Barcelona, but it was his teammate, and last season’s World Champion, Max Verstappen that won the Spanish GP. Despite an impressive drive in the hot weather, Checo’s race engineer, Hugh Bird, instructed him to let his teammate past.
Verstappen was quick off the line to stay behind pole-sitter Charles Leclerc into Turn 1. Meanwhile, Checo made up a place on Carlos Sainz with a brave move onto the grass at the start for the fourth position.
Max Verstappen took a trip across the gravel at Turn 4 on Lap 9 and rejoined behind Checo. To make matters worse, the Dutchman’s DRS was malfunctioning, which cost him time on the straights, and made it difficult to pass the Mercedes of George Russell.
On Lap 47, after the drivers at the front had pitted, Checo received this radio message from Hugh Bird, “Ok, you are on a different strategy to Max. If he’s quicker let him through.” To which, the Mexican responded, “That’s very unfair… but ok.”
Team orders are not uncommon in Formula 1, and from a team boss’s perspective, it ensures that the team maximizes its points. If the team allows the two to race, it is possible that they both crash and turn a 44-point weekend, into a zero-point Sunday to forget.
Once Max was past Checo, he was switched onto the premium three-stop strategy after he overworked his tires in the battle with Russell. Then, in what I felt was a statement to Red Bull, Checo braked very late to overtake Russell around the outside of Turn 1.
Who was the faster driver in Barcelona, and who deserved the win?
I feel that Perez deserved this one, especially considering that his team told him to “let Max have one more shot [on Russell]. It will be paid back later!” Verstappen made the mistake at Turn 4, and his car was compromised. Checo was not reimbursed by the end of the race for his good deed, and he finished second behind Verstappen, but crucially in front of Russell.
There were likely mixed emotions on the podium for Checo, it was his first one ever at the track, but his disappointment was evident. Going into the weekend he said, “Since Miami, I have had a new baby, Emilio, so it would be amazing to welcome him to the world with a great result.”
He did just that. By being a team player, he helped Red Bull secure the 1-2 finish, and he drove a great race to keep his championship campaign alive.
Verstappen thanked Checo over the radio after he took the checkered flag, and in his post-race interviews as well. I will certainly be following this story throughout the rest of the season, as I believe Checo might be called on to be a “team player“ a few more times.
Unfortunately, this race made it clear that he is the second driver at Red Bull, and we just have to wait and see if team orders will be used in Monaco this weekend.
Stay tuned for more Monaco GP coverage, and please check out my first article for @BellyUpSports.