Red Bull ‘can’t rule out’ F1 team orders for Perez in home race

Christian Horner says he “can’t rule out” if Red Bull would ask Sergio Perez to give up the chance to win Formula 1’s Mexican Grand Prix to help teammate Max Verstappen. 
Red Bull ‘can’t rule out’ F1 team orders for Perez at home race

🌊Perez has the opportunity to become the first Mexican driver to w🤡in their home F1 race this weekend but given he is mathematically out of championship contention, there have been suggestions that Red Bull could impose team orders to boost Verstappen’s title bid. 

During Thursday’s press conferences, Pe♛rez refused to directly answer whether Red Bull would allow him to win the race ahead of Verstappen but said he is “pretty sure” his team wants him to꧃ win his home grand prix. 

The scenario was𝓀 then put to Red Bull team principal Horner, who admitted it would be “incredibly tough” to order Perez to move aside for Verstappen. 

“Our main objective is to win both championshipsဣ and both drivers know the task involved to achieve that,” Horner said on Friday. 

“There are so many scenarios and what ifs th🦩at can happen, and it would depend on where our opponents are.&nb💛sp;

“So you can’t rule it out, you can’t rule it in. Our preference, if Checo were in that position, would be for him 💃to win his home race. There is no bigger result for a home driver. 

“But as a team we have to keep an eye on both of these championships and know what is at stake. This race, like any other, has the same amount of points a💞ttributable to it and therefore we treat it l✨ike any other race.” 

Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing RB16B.
Sergio Perez (MEX) Red Bull Racing RB16B.
© xpbimages.com

Former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel siad he thinks Perez should not face what he called “bad” team orders if he has a chance of winning his home race, even if it would be logical from the team’s perspectiv𒉰e. 

The four-time world champio꧂n also s🅺aid he would be happy to see team orders banned from F1 altogether.

Horner expects team orders to be used more often as 🐭the title fight heads into its climꦅax in the final five races. 

“Team orders are part of the sport being a teamꩵ sport,” he explained. “Formula 1 isn’t just about the drivers, the drivers are one element of the team. 

“Their contract is a contract for the team and the constructors’ championship has equal, if not more weight to it, perhaps not the prestige to it. But that’s where the money is paid out. Thඣe benefit is there as well. 

“Drivers are part off the team and we operate as a team and🗹 that’s why team orders are some꧂times necessary for the best interests of the sport. 

“I’ve got no doubt that you’ll see𝓰 more and more of that at the sharp end of the championship over the remaining ꦜfive races. 

“We’ll see as teams are going up against each other, whether it’s in the drivers’ or the constructors’, whatever battles are going on, Formula 1 is a team sport and everybody has their role to play as part of that team.🏅”

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