A Red Bull divided in half what we saw in Brazil, with Perez and Verstappen divided by an increasingly thick wall. If in Mercedes are kisses and hugs for the first success of the season thanks to George Russell, an incredible succession of victories, two world championships – constructors and drivers – was not enough in Red Bull to heal a relationship that is leaking from all sides. Max's first world championship, suffered until the end, ended with a phrase that has now become iconic:“Checo is a Legend!”. It's strange to think that only a year later, with an apparently less difficult and painful world championship, the two are at loggerheads. At the heart of the dispute is a team order that Max would not have voluntarily respected during the closing laps of the Brazilian GP.
When asked by the team not to overtake Perez, Max does the exact opposite, without the right to reply. He is also keen to specify it with a radio team, in which he claims he did not do it because he had already clarified his position on the matter. Perez with the poisoned tooth replies with a lapidary "Now we really know who he is“, aware that this is not a mask worn by Max, but his true nature, as a predator who does not leave even a crumb to his opponents. As happens in scandals of all points have resurfaced rumors on past episodes, which fuel the controversy over the case, casting a shadow over the less clear team in the paddock. To add more fuel to the fire, we also put the same Perez, who questioned the value of his partner, first in need of his help and then absent when it comes to teamwork.

Perez: "He won two titles thanks to me"
With disappointment mixed with anger Perez, who arrived in 2021 to support Max Verstappen in the fight for the world championship, claimed his work, claiming that Max would not have achieved these results without his help. If for 2021 the Mexican's support was very evident, having sacrificed himself defending Max's position on Hamilton in the last race in Abu Dhabi, it cannot be said with certainty about 2022. The title in this case arrived well before of the last match and with a Perez not up to par with his partner on several occasions.
"I don't know why he behaves like this, I don't understand his reasons, if he is a double world champion it is thanks to me" said Checo at the end of the race, warming up the atmosphere even more after what happened with Max. Perez also underlined how difficult it was to keep up with the rivals, including Verstappen, with the medium compound. Perez has a contract until 2024 with Red Bull, but seeing the premises, are we still certain that he will still be willing to be a "team man" next year?
Source statements: FormulaPassion