Red Bull was warned that Max Verstappen “wants a new teammate” at the team amid allegations of a rift between the Dutchman and Sergio Perez. The two drivers have fought at the bottom of the grid so far this season, winning two races. ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.
Verstappen, who is aiming for a third consecutive title, leads Perez through six problems in the team standings, but after the Mexican’s double win in Azerbaijan last time, he expressed a preference for competing against Red Bull for the championship. Team principal Christian Horner explained it as a “luxury problem”, but former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher insists it is “clear” that Verstappen needs Perez to leave Red Bull.
“It’s difficult, and from my point of view, it’s transparent that Verstappen’s team needs a new teammate,” said the Sky Germany expert. “I hear those rumors everywhere. I see this as a challenge Perez is experiencing: his time at Red Bull Racing is going to expire. He is fighting for his chance to play ahead, to win, to have a voice in the title.
“That’s right, the teammate is the biggest competitor. And who knows what odds there will be later. You can see in Lewis Hamilton how fast he goes. That’s why Sergio now fits more egocentric and when it comes to egocentrism, Max Verstappen can’t complain.
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“Max does it very well. He is rightly the number one of the team, but obviously also defines his territory. Being his teammate is not simple, I wouldn’t have sought to be. “
This is not the first time Schumacher has opened up about the tension between Verstappen and Perez, as the 47-year-old believes Red Bull has “options” in Yuki Tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo and other drivers in the market if they pass at some point. another address.
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“If there is a complicated relationship between Verstappen and Perez, then it would make sense to combine tactics with the Mexican,” Schumacher said. “If you look closely, you can see that teammates don’t get along. “
“And if a team has two drivers who don’t match, in the end it’s a big disadvantage for the team. “
Perez signed a two-year contract extension just under a year ago to devote him to Red Bull until the end of the 2024 season, meaning that if Verstappen disagrees with his teammate, he will possibly have to wait until the end of the 2024 season. season. next season to make a replacement happen.