Thesis | After the first corner, Verstappen and Perez swapped places

Max Verstappen has made it clear in Abu Dhabi that Red Bull Racing's goal is to secure second place from Sergio Perez. The teammates will start from the front row, but will the order remain the same after the first corner?

If Verstappen is willing to give up his position to Perez, the start might be the perfect opportunity for that. Verstappen often brakes late, but could be a little more cautious if he has his teammate next to him. Perez will have to make a good start himself, though, as he has Charles Leclerc in his wake.

The big question, however, is whether Verstappen is willing to give up his position if victory is at stake. Moreover, it is not necessarily necessary, as Perez only needs to finish ahead of Leclerc to secure second place in the final standings.

Additionally, should the Dutchman have a faster pace in the race, chasing Perez may not be the best choice, but then the Mexican will be a lot more vulnerable to attacks from his rivals. With Verstappen at his back, on the other hand, he has a better chance of driving away from Leclerc and taking second place in the final standings.