Perez: 'We will always put the team in front of our interests'

If there is anyone who knows how much a point can make the difference in the final standings of a title race, it is Max Verstappen. Yet the Dutchman refused to let his teammate Sergio Perez pass him in the closing stages of the Brazilian Grand Prix. Verstappen got a lot of criticism for that, from people both inside and outside Red Bull Racing.

Pundits lashed out at Verstappen, who showed 'selfish' behaviour at Interlagos. Mainly in the Dutch media, there was also sympathy for Verstappen, who seemed to still be angry about an incident in Monaco. There Perez crashed his car into the barrier during qualifying, preventing Verstappen from setting a fast lap.

Perez indicated immediately after the race in Brazil that he did not understand why Verstappen did not let him finish sixth. Perez told The Race that he thinks it was a one-off incident, and that this will not happen again in Abu Dhabi and beyond. “We will always put the team in front of our interests,” the Mexican said.

Verstappen is Red Bull's number one driver, although the team management never says that out loud. It is no secret that within the team everything is about the Dutchman, who repaid the trust with two world titles. For Perez, it is important that he still feels he has equal opportunities within the team. “Yeah, definitely,” he said. “Otherwise, it makes no sense to me.”