Max Verstappen’s ‘reasons’ for defying team orders and not letting Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez pass at the Brazilian Grand Prix was due to ‘deliberate crash’ in Monaco, reports claim

Max Verstappen’s decision to disobey team orders in Brazil was an act of revenge on teammate Sergio Perez, it has been claimed.

Multiple outlets in the Netherlands have reported that Verstappen’s bizarre call to not allow Perez past at the grand prix in Sao Paulo was due to the belief that Perez deliberately crashed in Monaco to secure better qualifying position earlier this season.

4

4

A thrilling race at the weekend saw George Russell masterfully seal his first win in Formula 1, and Mercedes’ first of 2022.

Drivers’ and constructors’ champions Red Bull were, for once, off of the pace, giving them a torrid weekend at Interlagos, but things got even worse just before the chequered flag fell.

With Red Bull in sixth and seventh, Verstappen, who was the faster driver, was allowed to pass Perez in order to challenge Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Perez is currently battling Leclerc for second-place in the drivers’ championship, and with Verstappen wrapping up first, his team were hopeful he could catch up with the Ferrari man and take crucial points off of him.

The Dutchman was told that if he was unsuccessful, positions would be swapped back between the two Red Bulls, and despite him failing to gain any places, positions weren’t changed.

Things then got even more awkward as team radio played out with Verstappen’s engineer telling the champion: “Max, let Checo through, please,†and then again later, “Max, what happened?â€

Most read in Sport

Tuesday horse racing tips: Best bets at Fakenham and Worcester from Tom Lunn

Why was Xintong banned? World Snooker Championship winner completed 20-month suspension

Historic Zhao win watched by more than double UK population in China

'Get behind him' - Mark Williams tips Zhao Xintong to become snooker's Luke Littler

The world champion then replied “I told you already last time, guys don’t ask that again to me, OK? Are we clear about that? I gave my reasons and I stand by it.â€

Perez was then heard saying on team radio, “It shows who he really is†before adding post-race: “I think if Max has two championships it’s because of me.â€

Numerous examples of Perez helping Verstappen to last season’s title were soon highlighted, with the most crucial coming in the Abu Dhabi finale last year where he held up title rival Lewis Hamilton for ten seconds.

That meant the Brit lost a free pit stop, proving absolutely vital as Verstappen was able to pit for soft tyres before passing in the controversial last lap decider.

4

On team radio at the time he was heard saying ‘Checo is an absolute legend,’ but it appears those feelings have since evaporated.

Both earlier this year in Monaco Perez admitted to deliberately crashing in qualifying to team bosses Helmut Marko and Christian Horner, which meant the session finished with him ahead of Verstappen.

Perez went on to take the win the following day, and it’s believed that was what Verstappen was referring to when he said: “I have my reasons for that,†post-race.

4

Following the Monaco GP, Verstappen's father Jos then wrote a surprising blog post where he accused the team of 'favouring Perez' which was 'disappointing'.

Both Verstappen and team principal Horner refused to elaborate on what the reasons were in their interviews following the incident, with Verstappen adding: “If we go to Abu Dhabi and he needs the points, because they’re tied, it’s not the end of the world.

“It’s all about who finishes ahead anyway. If he needs the help, I’ll be there.â€