“Don’t Worry Max”: Christian Horner’s Damning on Board Radio Message Favoring Verstappen Over Sergio Perez Exposed by Sky Sports F1 Pundit

HORNER Christian Teamchef F1 Team Red Bull Racing mit VERSTAPPEN Max FIA F1 Saison 2023 GP Aserbaidschan F1 GP Baku 2023 in Aserbaidschan am 28.04.2023 in Baku * HORNER Christian Team Principal F1 Team Red Bull Racing with VERSTAPPEN Max FIA F1 Season 2023 GP Azerbaijan F1 GP Baku 2023 in Azerbaijan on 28 04 2023 in Baku Copyright: xJerryxAndrex
Ever since the betrayal in Brazil last year, Sergio Perez has refused to play second fiddle to Max Verstappen. The change of attitude is apparent. However, Red Bull management has often come under scrutiny for preferring the Dutchman over Perez. The latest damning revelation made by a Sky F1 reporter confirms those concerns.
After a badly planned pit stop in Baku, Verstappen lost his lead to Perez. The Mexican driver took full advantage of the situation and built a healthy lead over his partner, giving him no chance to recover. He went on to win the race ahead of him and since then, comments from the top brass of the team have come under scrutiny. Helmut Marko’s post-race interview left fans wondering about the Austrian team’s preference for Max. Now Christian Horner’s team radio message for the reigning champion has confirmed it for the Sky Sports veteran.
Christian Horner’s radio message exposes his bias against Sergio Perez
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Given how dominant the Milton Keynes team is currently, their two drivers are arguably the only contenders for the driver’s championship. Perez and Verstappen have climbed the top step of the podium twice each until now in the season. The latest to do it in Baku was Checo, but it seems like Horner preferred Max to do it.
via Getty BARCELONA, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 27: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Red Bull Racing Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko look on in the garage during Day Two of F1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on February 27, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz, in his show, Ted’s Notebook, revealed that Horner on the team radio told Max that it was a long season ahead. “To my ears that sounds like Horner telling Verstappen: don’t worry Max, you’re still our man for the championship,” Kravitz said. [Translated using Google]
“Pérez will probably think he can do everything he can to make it an exciting fight and that could just be it,” he added.
Checo got the lead owing to a bad pit stop call. Kravitz shared its views on that as well.
Max Verstappen came for the tire change at the wrong time
As the race progressed toward Lap 10, Nyck de Vries crashed into the barriers and stood stationary on the track. Just moments before that, Verstappen complained about low grip. His race engineer told him to box after de Vries’ incident, which turned out to be counterproductive. Moreover, it played perfectly into Perez’s hands as the Safety Car came out after Verstappen went in.
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via Reuters Formula One F1 – Australian Grand Prix – Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia – April 2, 2023 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen during the press conference after winning the Australian Grand Prix REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Questioning the rationale behind the decision, Kravitz explained, “It was a strange decision for Max to come in. The team saw that De Vries was standing still and they should have known that the safety car would come out. At some point they should have just pushed a button to tell him to stay out, but maybe they didn’t want to.”
“If Verstappen could have stayed out, he would have won this Grand Prix. Of course you never know how the rest would have unfolded and Pérez just had the speed.”
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Currently, Max is clear of Checo by 6 points in the standings. The battle is sure to intensify further as we now move to Miami for the next race.