Red Bull will let me win despite team orders in Spain, says Sergio Perez

Sergio Perez has said that he is free to compete for race wins this season, despite being ordered to move over for Max Verstappen in last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

The Mexican gave up the lead of the race to his team-mate, allowing Verstappen to move into the lead of this year’s drivers’ championship, but made his displeasure known. “That’s very unfair,” he radioed. “I’m happy for the team but we need to speak later,” he added at the end of the race.

Speaking ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, Perez said that he had discussed the incident with the team and been reassured that he won’t have to play No2 to Verstappen at the moment.

The team admitted that it could have done more to maximise his pace during the race, according to Perez, who was on a different strategy to Verstappen. He also allowed Verstappen past in the early stage of the Grand Prix, but wasn’t then allowed back past his team-mate mid-race when the Mexican had the faster Red Bull.

“We spoke after the race,” said Perez. “They made it clear that I have full support of the team to see me winning… It’s clear, I think, on my side of the garage. It’s clear inside the team otherwise I wouldn’t be here.

“We all agree that we could have done a better job to give a better shot to both strategies to see which one worked. At the end of the day it was a great team result. And it’s a great momentum behind Red Bull at the moment.”

Verstappen dropped behind Perez early in the Spanish Grand Prix after going off track. The Mexican struggled to pass Russell, so was told to allow his team-mate past, with the promise that the gesture would be paid back.

Verstappen — who was also stuck behind the Mercedes — was then switched to a three-stop strategy in a bid to overcome DRS issues and the defensive Russell.