Civil war in Red Bull: from "Max Verstappen would not have two World Cups without me" to Sergio Pérez's possible Crashgate

The 2022 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix may go down in history as the one that blew up internal peace at Red Bull. With the drivers' and constructors' titles already sealed, it seemed difficult for something to go wrong at Interlagos, but Sergio Pérez's fight to be runner-up in the world could cost Red Bull dearly.

The team ordered Max Verstappen to allow himself to be overtaken on the last lap by Pérez so that the Mexican could finish sixth and add a couple more points in his battle to be runner-up, but Verstappen disobeyed. Now Charles Leclerc is the second in the world and the war of accusations has already begun.

 

Cross accusations between Pérez and Verstappen's entourage

Sergio Pérez did not hesitate to show his anger after the race , making it clear that he feels betrayed by the pilot whom he decisively helped to become world champion in 2021, but who now has not wanted to give up a pyrrhic sixth position to help the Mexican to be runner-up Pérez has cracked beautifully.

“I am very surprised, especially for everything I have done for him. I don't know what happened, I don't understand his reasons. I am very surprised. Now he will have to go to Abu Dhabi needing to finish ahead of Leclerc to be runner-up.

The problem is that Pérez's crack has had an answer, although not directly. While Verstappen has limited himself to saying that "there were things from the past to solve, but we have already done it and if necessary I will help him in Abu Dhabi ", the champion's environment has specified more what those things from the past are.

Specifically, people close to Verstappen, starting with the Dutch driver Tom Coronel and also members of his staff, have reported that Sergio Pérez crashed on purpose during qualifying for this year's Monaco Grand Prix, an accident that delayed Verstappen in the grid and contributed to Pérez's subsequent victory.

Telemetry data has even been released in which it is clearly seen how Pérez accelerates without much sense at the entrance of the tunnel, causing an accident that later also involved Carlos Sainz. A dangerous situation because the FIA ​​could enter ex officio, causing a second Crashgate like that of Nelsinho Piquet and Renault in Singapore 2008.

We will see how events continue in the next few hours, but it seems that the internal peace within the Red Bull team has been blown up after this Brazilian Grand Prix. And it could claim many victims.