Such an internal climate is poisoned very quickly: Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez distrust each other.
Image: picture alliance / NurPhoto
The machine is superior, but what are the people doing? Red Bull is heading towards a conflict between its pilots. There’s something smoldering that easily explodes. Can the team take it?
It was easy for the Herald Sun’s headline makers to get the mood going ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. 140,000 spectators, the expected record crowd, can look forward to two bulls from one stable attacking each other in Albert Park on Sunday (7 a.m. CEST in the F.A.Z. live ticker for Formula 1 and Sky). And the best part is that the two opponents are completely free to push their horns off. Christian Horner, the boss of Red Bull Racing, actually repeated the free ride into the conflict before the third World Championship round of the year.
With an innocent expression, as if it had not been shown in the past two years that he is currently the leading Formula 1 racing team, above all a team Verstappen. But the Brit is only too happy to give in to the wish that everyone had, that an internal duel between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez would provide the necessary tension, even if the challengers Ferrari and Mercedes were lagging behind. In the glow of the superiority of the blue, red and yellow car, it is asserted that there are no team orders in the British-Austrian ensemble. But the right of the stronger, or rather the faster, does.