The 2022 Formula One season has been the best for Red Bull in its entire sports history. With Max Verstappen’s stunning 15 GP wins, and Sergio Perez’s incredible support, the team finally got what they have been dreaming of for the past eight years. However, if it is Formula One, how can it be filled with all happiness and no wounds? Despite the best stats that Red Bull achieved last season, they got two wounds too. One goes with the Cost Cap fiasco, and another is the loss of the Brazilian Grand Prix to Mercedes. The only black spot in the Red Bull journey map of 2022 is the Interlagis race, where Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez got into a little dispute which gained the world’s attention.
The Black Spot In Red Bull’s Brightest Season
Initially, Red Bull was losing the game to Ferrari as the Scuderia’s ace, Charles Leclerc, was unbeatably winning three of the starting races. But after Carlos Sainz’s Silverstone win, Red Bull upgraded the RB18 and reduced some of its weight. Apparently made it more suitable for Max Verstappen. And then, what to say! Max Verstappen just claimed everything he desired for. Except for Monaco, Singapore, and Brazil, he won all the races held after the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez claimed Monaco and Singapore as probably intentional/natural crashes were not acceptable for Max. During the Q3 of the Monacan Grand Prix, Checo got an allegation that he made the crash intentionally, which ultimately paved his way to winning his first race of the season. This probably left an impact on max’ mind which made him take revenge on his own teammate in Brazil.
One of the reasons for the Sao Paulo loss was that it also crushed Red Bull’s dream of a one-two finish in the driver’s standings was little disagreements occurred between the Red Bull drivers. During the race, on the final lap, Max Verstappen, for the first time, was found on P7. He was struggling with the safety car restart. Unluckily, RB18’s pace was gone that day, or let’s say GOD himself made the day in Mercedes’s favor. It saved the Silver Arrows’ pride of rounding off the season with at least one win. But it put Red Bull into a huge controversy.
The Main Reason Why Max Verstappen Got Selfish At Interlgos Was The Unexpected P7
During the closing laps of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was ordered by the team to let Checo through. This was a strategically made plan to make Checo’s position stable in the driver’s standings as his nearest rival, Charles Leclerc, was already getting P3 while Perez was yet on P7. But, very unexpectedly, instead of helping or returning Checo’s position back. Max said, “Don’t you guys ask me this again to me.”
Now some might say he did it because he was frustrated about his one-race loss. But the others believe it was nothing but revenge for the Monaco crash. This belief occurred when a reporter asked Verstappen for the reasons why he did not help his teammate. And he did not deny the claim of the reporter that it was revenge developed due to Checo’s intentional crash.
Meanwhile, Christian Horner speaks about the reasons for the Brazilian BP controversy. He said, “Team Red Bull had never envisaged being in a situation where the drivers were at sixth and seventh in the final laps.” These scenarios were never discussed before the race. So, on teh spot, sudden failure led Max Verstappen to be selfish, and it happened. However, according to the team’s boss, there is nothing wrong between Sergio Perez and Max. They are heading to the next season with love and peace.
