Max Verstappen, Red Bull, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, 2022

“Why won’t you let me by?” Team orders and DRS dramas on Red Bull’s radio in Spain

2022 Spanish GP team radio transcript

23rd May 2022, 17:3915th November 2022, 12:36 | Written by Keith Collantine

Red Bull brought home a one-two finish in the Spanish Grand Prix but had to navigate a few tricky moments during the race to get there.

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Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez ran second and fourth in the opening stages. However a stiff gust of wind sent Verstappen off-track at turn four, dropping him behind his team mate.

That led to the first of two occasions on which Perez was told to let his team mate by. But as soon as Red Bull did that, a DRS problem Verstappen had suffered on Saturday recurred. That thwarted his efforts to pass second-placed George Russell.

The retirement of Charles Leclerc meant the three-way scrap between the Red Bull drivers and Russell became the battle for the lead. After the trio pitted, Verstappen continued to try to find a way past Russell. Meanwhile an unimpressed Perez, whose DRS was working, urged the team to let him past Verstappen.

Rather than do that, Red Bull opted to pit Verstappen again and leave Perez on a two-stop strategy. That meant in the final third of the race Perez held the lead while Verstappen closed rapidly on fresher tyres. Red Bull intervened again, telling Perez to let his team mate by. Verstappen went on to win.

Here’s how the race unfolded on their radios.

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez’s 2022 Spanish Grand Prix radio messages

Verstappen made no remark when he skidded off the track on turn nine, though Red Bull were quick to warn Perez about the gust of wind which had caught out his team mate.

Lap	Speaker	Message	Speaker	Message
1	Lambiase	Mode six.	Bird	Car behind, Sainz.
1	Lambiase	Display eight.	Bird	Into our management. Display eight.
1	Lambiase	Straight into management.
2	Lambiase	Okay DRS now enabled and strat six when you can.	Bird	Fail 91 fail, when you can.
2	Lambiase	Whilst you’re this close to Leclerc, Max, try to cool the car as best you can.	Bird	DRS enabled. Leclerc’s first lap 27.6, Max 27.5.
2	Lambiase	Rear-left tyre leaning at the moment.	Bird	Straight on the management.
3	Lambiase	Gap 1.8 behind.
3	Lambiase	Okay for info Max the last lap you were managing tyres more in three and nine, that’s fine for the.
4	Lambiase	Max just for the moment, continue to cool the car on the straights. So if you could just pull out a little bit from Leclerc’s tow.
5	Lambiase	Got behind three seconds. Keep the management up.	Bird	Main losses to Max turn five, turn seven.
6			Bird	27.4 for Leclerc, 27.7 for Max.
6			Bird	Tyre temps have stabilised.
6			Bird	Sainz in the gravel at turn four.
6			Bird	He’s going again.
6			Bird	Car behind us Bottas at seven seconds.
7	Lambiase	Okay Leclerc 27.9, gap behind 4.6.	Bird	Tyre seven, not urgent.
7			Bird	Management into 10 [unclear].
8	Lambiase	Could I have a front wing update for the next stint, please?	Bird	Yellow ahead, yellows.
8	Verstappen	Ah, that’s alright.	Bird	Let’s get him Checo, let’s get it done.
8	Lambiase	Understood.
8	Lambiase	Tyres okay for the moment, Max.
8	Lambiase	That was a large gust, entry of turn four there, Max.
9			Bird	Couple of cars have gone off at turn four. Getting a strong gust of tailwind at turn four.

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As Perez tried to pass Russell, Verstappen appeared on his tail. The champion quickly pointed out to his team that he felt he was quicker. Red Bull gave Perez one more chance to pass the Mercedes before ordering the switch.

9			Bird	This is your chance, get it done.
10	Verstappen	I’m miles faster.	Bird	Okay Checo let Max have a shot. Let him through before four.
10	Lambiase	Yep copy Max.	Perez	Give me one more lap.
10	Verstappen	[Unclear]	Bird	Let’s give him a shot now. We’ll pay back later.
10			Perez	Copy.
10			Bird	Thank you.
10			Bird	Stay with him.

Verstappen spent a long time behind Russell

Verstappen’s DRS failed to deploy when he tried to pass Russell. The Mercedes driver then pitted, and Red Bull responded by doing the same, rather than leave Verstappen out to gain the position on-track.

11	Lambiase	Strat eight.	Bird	Okay back into our management, back into lift-and-coast. We really need it now.
11	Lambiase	Max, info: The DRS flap did not open last lap. Keep trying.	Bird	Okay so we bring our temperatures under control, management turn one, four, turn 10.
11			Perez	Yeah high speed is a little bit neutral.
11			Bird	Yeah. Copy.
12	Lambiase	Box and pit confirm Max, Russell is boxing as well, box pit confirm. Strat 12 in pit lane, focus on your marks.	Bird	Okay let’s manage the temperatures for now. So double your management for now particularly turn 10, turn four.
13	Lambiase	Strat eight. Okay Max, just so you are aware DRS did work on the in-lap.	Bird	Okay enjoy this free air.
13	Lambiase	Russell instructed to bring his tyres in gently.	Bird	B-bal four is available for a bit of stability and [unclear] for turn five if you need it.
13	Lambiase	Info, Leclerc at the lead is a 28.5, his lap time.	Perez	What’s the pace of Leclerc?
13			Bird	Leclerc’s last lap 28.3.
13			Bird	PU eight position four. PU eight position four, plus two.
14	Lambiase	Max just to confirm it’s thermal deg, wear looks fine, thermal deg.	Bird	Mode six when you can.
14	Lambiase	Mode seven, Max.

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Verstappen’s DRS continued to thwart his efforts to pass Russell. Meanwhile Perez made his first pit stop, having run just four laps longer than his team mate.

15	Lambiase	Gap 0.6.	Bird	Plan A.
15	Lambiase	DRS did not open…
15	Verstappen	The fucking DRS!
15	Lambiase	Max when you can engine 11 position five.
16			Bird	Box Checo, box. Start 12 for the pit lane.
17	Verstappen	… not even make the fucking DRS…	Bird	Strat eight, strat eight.
17			Bird	Okay Max eight seconds in front. Reset your tools.
17			Bird	Okay we’ve got 49 laps to go, we’re on plan A, into our management.
17			Bird	Okay when you can display 10, position 11. Plus five.
18			Bird	So initial laps for Max and Russell, 27.6, 27.3.

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George Russell, Mercedes, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, 2022 — Perez lost time behind his stuck team mate

While Verstappen was frustrated forlap after lap by his DRS problems, Perez emerged from the pits and caught his team mate and Russell again.

19	Lambiase	Okay Max you’ve got DRS, we are watching Russell just be careful…	Bird	Reset our switches: Display eight, tyre eight.
19	Verstappen	No my DRS is not working mate.	Perez	What’s the pace for Max?
19	Lambiase	Just look out for Russell because he’s moving in the braking zone.	Bird	Max being held up by Russell. His last lap a 27.9.
19			Bird	20 laps complete, 46 remaining. Go mode seven boats.
20	Verstappen	Oh my god man.
20	Lambiase	Strat six please Max.
20	Lambiase	Max try pressing the DRS after your kerbing.
21	Lambiase	Max I think you may have closed it last time around.	Bird	Gap to Max five seconds, you’re reeling them in.
21	Verstappen	Because I’m pressing it 50 fucking times before it opens.	Bird	Display 10, position 11. Plus one.
21	Lambiase	Just try one button press after the kerb.
22			Perez	What’s the pace for them?
22			Bird	Max this last lap a 28.2. Gap 3.5.
22			Bird	Leclerc’s first lap on the medium: 27.2.
23	Lambiase	Not sure he left you a car’s width.	Bird	Okay increase management for now. We’ll build some temperature margin. Use the temperatures when we need it to race.

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With fresher tyres and working DRS, Perez urged Red Bull to let him past. Meanwhile Russell’s firm defence was infuriating Red Bull, who accused him of breaking the rules, though the stewards noted nothing of concern about his defensive moves.

24			Perez	Get me Max out of the way so I overtake quickly.
24			Bird	Yeah copy Checo.
24			Bird	So build the temperature margin for now.
24			Bird	Brakes are a bit on the warm side.
25	Lambiase	Strat five.	Bird	Let’s wait at two seconds for now. We’re in a different race from them.
25			Perez	Why don’t you let me by? I have very fresh tyres. I can get by quickly.
26	Verstappen	Ah he’s moving under braking.	Bird	Build the margin on the tyre temps, build the margin on the brakes, we’ll get our chance.
26	Lambiase	Copy that. The stewards aren’t doing aren’t doing anything about it. If it’s not you, it’s allowed, apparently.	Perez	We will compromise our race, mate.
26	Lambiase	Leclerc travelling slowly ahead, he’s complained of a loss of power. Expecting Leclerc to pit ahead of you.	Bird	We’ve got Leclerc slow in turn 10, turn 11.
26			Bird	Leclerc slow ahead turn 13.

As Perez continued to lose time behind his team mate, he reminded his race engineer of his earlier words that he would get payback for letting Verstappen through. Red Bull opted to bring Verstappen in for his second pit stop, which cleared the way for Perez to pass Russell, which he did quickly.

27	Lambiase	Box and pit confirm, Max. Strat 12 in pit lane. Focus on your marks.	Bird	Leclerc pitted.
27			Perez	Come on guys, let me by.
27			Bird	You’ve still got fresh tyres, you’re going to get your shot.
27			Perez	I did help Max earlier, man, come on.
27			Bird	Yeah we know Checo.
27			Bird	Let’s get him, let’s get him.
28	Lambiase	Okay strat eight, white light on the exit. Could be close to Sainz…	Bird	Stroll just ???.
28	Verstappen	Am I racing someone?	Bird	Okay. Russell’s last lap 28.8. This is for the race lead, Leclerc’s retired.
28	Lambiase	Yes, could be close to Sainz, racing Sainz.	Bird	Okay let’s get it done, catch and pass, catch and pass.
28	Lambiase	Sainz approaching.
28	Lambiase	Strat five. Strat five.
28	Lambiase	Russell has stayed out.
28	Lambiase	You have a track position. We’re in our own race now Max.
29	Lambiase	So Bottas had 16-lap-old medium tyres.	Bird	Magnussen just in front of Russell getting blues.
29	Lambiase	Max, could you just introduce three seconds of lift-off around the lap? Just want to try and cool the engine for the moment.	Bird	This is it, Checo, let’s get it done.
29			Bird	Battery is good.
30	Lambiase	Mode six.	Bird	Okay let’s build this gap. PU three position eight. Plus three.

Verstappen was much quicker on his fresh set of tyres, and cut around one-and-a-half seconds per lap out of Perez, who was being told to manage his rubber, as it would have to last longer on his two-stop strategy.

31	Lambiase	So picture: Checo P1 now, Russell one-and-a-half seconds behind. Checo last lap a 27.9. You are 14 seconds behind Checo.	Bird	Okay back into our management.
32	Lambiase	Okay. Checo last lap 28.2, Russell 29.2, you’re a 25.9, gap to Checo 11.8.	Bird	Gap to Russell now 2.5, keep on building it nice and steady.
32	Lambiase	There are still 34 laps remaining at this race, Max, 34 laps.	Bird	Stay on top of the management: Turn one, four 10.
32			Perez	What’s the pace of Max?
32			Bird	Max’s last lap, 25.9.
33	Lambiase	Okay that’s half race distance.	Bird	33 laps complete, 33 remaining.
33			Bird	The lift-and-coast is good for the tyres. Keep on it.
33			Bird	Go at tyre six. How’s the balance?
34	Lambiase	Max, could you double your lift-off, please? Double the lift-off for the moment. Engine temps are coming down.	Perez	[Unclear]. How is the race looking?
34	Lambiase	This is good Max, you’re going to be putting pressure on Russell in a couple of laps’ time.	Bird	Yeah, in a strong position here. Sainz still in P7.
34			Bird	Mode six when you can.
35	Lambiase	Fail 20. Checo 28.2. Russell 29.0.	Bird	This is good pace. Max’s last lap on fresh softs 26.9. Big tyre advantage there.
35	Lambiase	Russell is boxing, Max. Russell is pitting.	Perez	A status update please.
35			Bird	Status 50.
35			Bird	Engine seven position two. Plus one.

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Verstappen realised the advantage his three-stop strategy would give him over the two drivers he was racing against. However Perez was already being told he was in a “different race” to his team mate.

36	Lambiase	That would be a 30-lap stint for Russell. Three laps shy of half-race. Just manage the tyres.	Bird	PU two position one. Minus five.
36	Lambiase	So our strategy here is to have the tyre advantage we need in that final stint, Max.	Perez	I run wide into seven, all okay.
36	Lambiase	Checo ahead a 28.4, gap six seconds.	Bird	Box Checo box. Strat 12 in the pit lane.
36	Lambiase	So measured race pace now Max. We need solid pace without the over-slips.
37			Bird	Strat eight. So just covering Russell. Russell pitted behind.
37			Bird	Okay it’s all clear here. Strat seven. Plan A. 28 laps to go.
38	Verstappen	What tyres are they on?	Perez	How far is Max?
38	Lambiase	Both on medium tyres.	Bird	Max is 16 seconds ahead. His last lap a 26.5. But we’re doing a different race.
38	Lambiase	Last lap for Russell was a 26.8. I’ll keep you posted.	Bird	Latifi is getting blues.
39	Verstappen	For them it’s going to be a long stint.	Bird	Okay so management, the tyres appreciate the lift-and-coast.
39	Lambiase	Yep, copy that, Max.	Perez	What was the last lap for Max?
39	Lambiase	Checo same pace on new medium, Russell three tenths slower. This is really good Max, just keep this place. Russell last lap was a 27.9, some traffic.	Bird	26.7.
39			Bird	We’re seeing quite a tailwind in turn seven. Think about the push toggle turn seven. Do a bit more management turn four, turn 10. 26 laps to go.
40	Lambiase	Max can I have a front wing update for the final stint, please.	Perez	What sort of pace do we need?
40	Verstappen	Yeah, that’s good.	Bird	This pace is good. Russell behind doing a 27.9.
40	Lambiase	Understood.

Perez continued to ask for updates on the gap between him and Verstappen as his team mate’s final pit stop approached. After he came in, Verstappen emerged within six seconds of the other Red Bull.

41	Lambiase	Russell last lap 27.3 with DRS sector one.	Perez	How is the race looking? I need information.
41			Bird	Russell’s last lap 27.3. Max did a 27.4.
41			Bird	Sainz back in P5.
41			Bird	Gap to Russell now six seconds.
41			Perez	And to Max?
41			Bird	Gap to Max 16 seconds.
41			Bird	Got 24 laps to go Checo.
41			Bird	You’re catching Stroll, then free air in front of Stroll.
42	Lambiase	Engine 11 position six when you can.	Bird	27.1 for Max, 27.1 for Russell, it’s all good.
42	Lambiase	Last laps same pace for Checo and Russell.	Perez	Do we need more pace?
42			Bird	This pace is good. Plan A, 24 laps to go.
42			Bird	Stroll’s getting blues.
42
43	Lambiase	Okay let’s push, Max, now, push.	Bird	Okay, free air now. Okay Max has pitted, he’s going to slot in behind you.
43	Lambiase	Box and pit confirm, Max.
43	Lambiase	Strat 12 in pit lane, focus on your marks.
44	Lambiase	Strat eight, white line on the exit, you’ll be racing Russell.	Bird	Okay Max 6 seconds back.
44	Lambiase	Gap behind 1.7. Gap to Checo ahead 5.6. This is also a 22-lap stint, Max.
44	Lambiase	Checo already eight laps and Russell nine laps on that stint.

Perez had to let Verstappen by a second time

Red Bull made it clear to Perez as soon as Verstappen got within striking distance of him that he would be required to let his team mate by. Perez was not impressed with his second order to give way, calling it “very unfair” but complied.

45	Lambiase	Strat five as well, please, Max. Last lap for Checo’s was a 26.9. Gap behind 3.5 to Russell.	Bird	That’s 45 laps complete, 21 remaining.
46	Lambiase	Okay Checo last lap was a 26.8, gap is 3.3. Russell now six seconds behind, last lap 27.9. Still 20 laps remaining, Max.	Bird	Tyre seven.
46	Lambiase	This is by no means a straightforward stint either.	Bird	Okay you’re on a different strategy to Max. If he’s quicker, we let him through.
46			Perez	That’s very unfair. But okay.
46			Bird	20 laps remaining.
46			Perez	What is his pace?
46			Bird	Max’s last lap a 25.4. We’ve still got 20 laps to go.
46			Bird	Closing in on Gasly, Vettel and Daniel.
47			Perez	What’s the gap?
47			Bird	Gasly’s pitted. Max at 1.9. His last lap a 25.7.
47			Bird	Max is faster than us, we’re just bringing it home from here.
47			Bird	Max at 1.4.
47			Bird	Okay let Max through into turn one, let Max through into turn one.
48	Verstappen	Oh my fucking DRS again.	Perez	Copy. I’ll let him by now.
48	Verstappen	Thank you mate.	Bird	Yeah, let him through.
48	Lambiase	Yep. Both of you, bring it home from here. Russell last lap 27.8. Gap 11 seconds.	Bird	Bringing it home from here. Russell 10 seconds back.
48	Lambiase	Just continue with the lift-and-coast, Max.

When Russell made his third pit stop, Red Bull responded with another for Perez, which allowed him to take the fastest lap of the race, scoring a bonus point. That ensured a maximum score for Red Bull.

Verstappen was told to avoid using DRS, as Red Bull were no doubt concerned the malfunctioning system could fail and force him out of the race.

49			Bird	17 laps to go. Stay on the management, stroke it home.
51	Lambiase	Okay Max race update, Russell has pitted. No threat behind until the end.	Bird	Go mode seven for now.
51			Bird	Tyre six when you can.
52	Lambiase	Max, info: Do not use DRS when passing backmarkers ahead, please. We won’t use DRS, thank you.	Bird	Track limits at turn nine on that last lap, we exceeded track limits at turn nine.
52			Bird	Box Checo box. Strat 12 in the pit lane.
53	Lambiase	Info Max, Checo has pitted to cover Russell.	Bird	Strat eight. Okay this will be your shot at fastest lap. Go to strat one now Russell has also pitted behind you he’s just on the control line.
53			Bird	So gap to Russell at five seconds. In front of you you’ve got Gasly at three and a half. This’ll our chance for fastest lap.
53			Bird	Diff entry seven, diff mid seven. You’re strapped to for now.
53			Bird	Go start two for now.
53			Bird	So still got 4 seconds back to Russell. Okay target on the delta is -2.4 for the fastest lap.
53			Bird	Going to need a bigger gap to Gasly. Take up another three seconds to Gasly.
53			Bird	Okay. Strat one. Mode one. Bigger gap to Gasly, bigger gap to Gasly. Okay let’s go. Mode one, mode one. Mode one. Okay fastest lap, let’s do it.
54	Verstappen	You don’t think we will be under threat, no?	Bird	Mode eight, strat eight, fastest lap. Bring it home from here.
54	Lambiase	No we’re fine to the end, Max.	Perez	Who had the fastest lap before?
55			Bird	Hamilton had it before. We’ll go mode nine for now.

Red Bull scored their second one-two of the season

The pair brought their cars home and scored a one-two for Red Bull. Verstappen thanked his team mate, but Perez made it clear he wanted to discuss the circumstances behind the two calls to make way for the team’s other car.

56			Bird	There’s 10 laps remaining.
56			Bird	Strat seven. Strat seven. Nine laps to go.
57			Perez	What’s the gap behind?
57			Bird	Russell at six seconds.
57			Perez	And the gap to Max?
57			Bird	Gap to Max 20 seconds.
59	Lambiase	Soft tyre runners obviously hit their tyres pretty hard early on. Russell already 26.8. Checo following you home as well.	Bird	Okay so Max’s last lap a 26.8. Russell’s lap time 26.8. Let’s stroke it home.
59	Verstappen	Yeah I’m just going to bring it home.
59	Lambiase	Perfect.
60			Bird	Six laps to go, management to the end, stroke it home.
60			Bird	Mode six.
60			Bird	Management into 10 was nice. Same into four. Same into one. Five laps to go. Max’s last lap a 26.8.
61			Bird	Gap to Russell seven seconds. His last lap a 27.0.
64	Lambiase	Tailwind into turn four is as strong as ever.
65	Lambiase	Final lap.
66	Lambiase	Well, sometimes you’ve got to do it the hard way. Well done. Max.	Bird	There you go. P2, fastest lap, Max P1, great result that one. Recharge on.
66	Verstappen	Lovely.	Bird	Thank you for everything in that race.
66	Lambiase	Recharge and fail 84 please mate.	Perez	I’m happy for the team. But we need to speak later.
66	Verstappen	Not an easy start to the race put we turned it aroudn at the end. So a very good job also for the team, really good result. And also thank you to Checo, he’s a great team mate.	Bird	Yep. Fail 84 fail.
66	Horner	Well done mate. Very sorry about that DRS today I know we made life a bit difficult for you. But you had great pace and great recovery after that moment at turn four. So a great one-two for the team.	Horner	Well done, Checo. Thank you for that drive today, that was a very, very strong drive again so thank you for playing the team game as well, well done.
66	Verstappen	Made it a bit more interesting at least!	Perez	No worries. We’ll speak later, mate.
66	Lambiase	Fail two please as well Max. And some pick-up on the way in if you need to.	Horner	It turned out that three stop was the better option. So I think we did just run out of tyres at the end there.
66	Horner	I’m going to send Jo Fleet, our HR director, up today. So look after her up there, will you?	Perez	Yep. Good job, guys. Well done to everyone. Good recovery and good points.
66	Verstappen	I can’t guarantee that but I’ll do my best!	Bird	Yep, onwards and upwards, our day on the top step will come.
66			Bird	Okay into the pit lane. As ever, leave it in P1.

NB. Repetitious or irrelevant messages (e.g. blue flag warnings) omitted.

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2022 Spanish Grand Prix

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Author information

Keith Collantine

Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...
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65 comments on ““Why won’t you let me by?” Team orders and DRS dramas on Red Bull’s radio in Spain”

Sihrtogg (@sihrtogg)
23rd May 2022, 18:26

My favourite part of RaceFans. You just don’t get this stuff anywhere else.
It’s so insightful and puts the selected messages we get during the race broadcast in another perspective.
1. bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
  23rd May 2022, 19:28
  
  @sihrtogg Yeah totally agree, I don’t know if Keith himself transcribes them or where they come from. But so many times I’ve read these and the context of conversations changes hugely. Sometimes it appears it’s just timing of messages and what is happening on track at that time and sometimes you feel like they’ve left bits out purpose. Either way, it’s nice to be able to read the full dialogue.
  1. David BR (@david-br)
    23rd May 2022, 20:48
    
    it’s nice to be able to read the full dialogue
    
    @bernasaurus Even if most of Max’s dialogue is unquotable BTL :oP
  2. Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
    23rd May 2022, 21:41
    
    @bernasaurus Glad you enjoy them! They’re written up by one or more people on the team, this one was done by me.
    1. ajpennypacker (@ajpennypacker)
      24th May 2022, 0:18
      
      Kudos to all of them for the quality analysis.
    2. BasCB (@bascb)
      24th May 2022, 10:50
      
      I agree with the others here that while they certainly are a lot of work (I tried transcribing some in the past for the site in the early days) it’s great to read them back @keithcollantine, they give a unique insight that is hard to find elsewhere.
    3. bernasaurus (@bernasaurus)
      24th May 2022, 18:01
      
      Thanks @keithcollantine and the team!
    4. Ankita
      24th May 2022, 19:05
      
      Thanks Keith. This is great!
2. f1andrea
  23rd May 2022, 19:30
  
  Absolutely. I love it too
3. stefano (@alfa145)
  24th May 2022, 18:50
  
  not sure if the favorite part at all of the site, but surely agree with you, it’s truly great.
  plus, try reading it with some appropriate music in the background, it makes it quite exciting for me
4. ThreePurpleSectors (@)
  24th May 2022, 23:42
  
  If you have F1TV, you can hear the the whole communication if you switch to driver cam rather the TV directors curated sound bites. Also when you hear the curated messages on live broadcast, they arn’t synced to what your seeing on screen. It could be lap 30 in the race and they’ll play a message from lap 25. Proper drive to survive stuff.
James Neutron (@phillyspur)
23rd May 2022, 20:08

Sounds like they were intentionally keeping Checo in the dark for a lot of the race.
1. Cobray (@)
  23rd May 2022, 20:34
  
  @phillyspur Yeah, they should have informed him of their plan to switch Max to 3 stops, all with competition listening on their team radio as well, just so you know in case they wanted to react.
  
  Like the 3 laps, he got held up would make any difference at the end.
  1. ThreePurpleSectors (@)
    24th May 2022, 23:50
    
    @cobray, they engineered Checo out of the win. They wanted to maximize points for Max. The easiest way teams do this is to change pit strategy. Checo is knows he can’t win a race if Max is in contention. Foolish of him to think otherwise.
    
    I’m just here enjoying the hypocrisy of people justify team orders in rd.6. After we’ve had Bottas and Rosberg ridiculed for years. And their orders were in the tail end of the championship.
    1. drmouse (@drmouse)
      25th May 2022, 7:43
      
      Completely true. Isn’t it amazing how all the Max fans who have lambasted Mercedes over their use of team orders in the past are suddenly completely fine with it?
    2. Noframingplease (@)
      27th May 2022, 8:45
      
      @threepurplesectors @drmouse isn’t it amazing most fans like to spread non info about ‘never so early in the season’ https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.bottas-accepting-team-orders-tough.2TAwqblZsIq6AgSmqgys08.html
2. David BR (@david-br)
  23rd May 2022, 20:41
  
  @phillyspur Kept in the dark and fed on Red Bull, as the saying goes.
3. MacLeod (@macleod)
  24th May 2022, 7:40
  
  I had more the feeling they weren’t on a 3 stop and were calculating if possible which took a while. Maybe they were checking others doing more stops or so.
  
  Also the remark Checo was on a 1 stop and blimy from George gave me checo was on a 1 stop and chanced it to 2 later.
4. TurboBT
  24th May 2022, 9:52
  
  ferrari did it with vettel/kimi for a long time, so no worries. They are fighting leclerc and need to do the necessary
SpaFrancorchamps (@spafrancorchamps)
23rd May 2022, 20:19

Checo had to let the poor kid by so that he would finally stop whining.
1. Noframingplease (@)
  24th May 2022, 8:09
  
  @spafrancorchamps glad those things didn’t happen before
  https://youtu.be/VvLycBdR-54
  That’s not with the moaning of the other driver who’s tyres are always ‘gone’ and his competitors are always driving too aggressive.
  1. Swifty
    24th May 2022, 11:39
    
    Slightly different game at play during that snippet, buddy. But appreciate the effort…
    
    It’s sad but predictable that Red Bull have already decided to stop their drivers racing.
    1. Alex
      24th May 2022, 14:06
      
      Can we please all grow up a bit and stop this. All teams have their no.1 and no.2 drivers. The drivers might not say it, the team principles might not say it, and it might not be in contracts. But we all know they do. You’re naive if you think otherwise.
      1. Gubstar
        24th May 2022, 15:12
        
        This!!! Unfortunately the Hamilton fans are still trying to find anything to slate Red Bull and Max due to last year (and George comfortably beating Lewis so far this year) without thinking that Merc have done the same thing with Lewis’s teammates since Nico left the team. And this has been going on since the beginning of F1 for all teams. Its motor racing…..
    2. Noframingplease (@)
      24th May 2022, 19:49
      
      @swifty oh dear, it seems memory problems between the hamster fans are spreading. Indeed, a totally different situation between wingman Bottas and Perez. Where RB has to fight for every point, and Perez is in most cases the slower one in the team, MB crushed the competition for years with their double podiums. But that was not enough for ambitious Toto. The MB needs to show that they could ruin the entire field with their 1,2 ‘s in the championship. And in those cases they even use teamorders. And when the chance was zero that the GOAT could lose his potential title, bottas may occasionally win a race.
      Indeed, totally different….but, it’s great to see the hamster fans do their homework under every RB/verstappen article here at Racefans.
    3. Noframingplease (@)
      27th May 2022, 8:57
      
      @swifty race 3 of the 2017 season MB started with teamorders in favor of your great OAT. Maybe do some research before blabbling with your co-fans Swifty
  2. SpaFrancorchamps (@spafrancorchamps)
    29th May 2022, 10:09
    
    @nofanboysplease There is a difference between issuing team orders when you’re quite a bit into the season, the championship fight being tight and one driver needs all the points he can get, compared to driving the 6th race of a 22 race calendar with only 18 points separating your two drivers and having a deficit to the championship leader of only 19 points……
    
    It was very unfair what RBR did to Checo. Who has actually been fighting Max this year on raw pace.
    
    Team orders in race 6 with both drivers having all to play for. How do you destroy a sport. And if you start accusing me of any fanboyism too, you’re damn right. I am a big F1 fan.
    1. Noframingplease (@)
      29th May 2022, 18:36
      
      @spafrancorchamps indeed a pity for checo. What I said earlier this isn’t a RB thing. MB gave teamorders much earlier in the season during the lewis/bottas time. The discussion isn’t about the good or bad of teamorders, its about the denying here that MB didn’t do these things in the past. They did, more often and earlier in the season.
David BR (@david-br)
23rd May 2022, 20:47

Okay you’re on a different strategy to Max. If he’s quicker, we let him through.

At the end of a race when there are no more pit stops to play out? The ‘strategies’ were all over by then, leaving Perez ahead and Verstappen behind but quicker. There was no more ‘strategy’ to apply, unless Perez’s ‘strategy’ is actually to come in behind Max.
1. Cobray (@)
  23rd May 2022, 21:11
  
  @david-br
  
  The strategy was to avoid a fight. Laps after Checo was told to pick up the pace.
  
  Lap 46: Checo 1:26:808 Ver 1:25:456
  Lap 47: Checo 1:27:183 Ver 1:25:707
  Lap 48: Checo 1:26:915 Ver 1:25:755
  
  The start of lap 49 was the overtake. IMHO Not even debatable who would have won this. The team wanted to avoid the conflict.
  1. jff
    23rd May 2022, 23:30
    
    But still, at the end there is only one strategy, get to the finish line as quickly as possible.
    They couldn’t be on different strategies, other than Verstappen to fight for the WDC and Perez supporting him.
    1. Esploratore (@esploratore1)
      24th May 2022, 1:43
      
      But perez still made an extra stop in the end, didn’t he? There were plenty of laps to the end still, he’d have lost even more than 1.2-1.4 sec a lap by the end.
      1. jff
        24th May 2022, 6:28
        
        That’s not a strategy, but a tactical decision to go for a FLAP when you’re a pit stop ahead of the car behind you.
      2. David BR (@david-br)
        24th May 2022, 17:35
        
        jff – Also something of a consolation prize (of one point) for Perez. If Red Bull are so concerned about Max maxxing his points, why not pit him to grab FLAP as well? I guess that might have been a little too much even for Checo to take.
x303 (@x303)
23rd May 2022, 21:15

Strange from RB to follow Russel in the pits. It would have been easier to put a few banker laps and exit the pits in front of the Mercedes.
Then, keeping Pérez with a working DRS behind Verstappen with a faulty one is curious.
This reminds me of Austria 2002, and I’d like to know how Checo’s fans are taking this.
1. Esploratore (@esploratore1)
  24th May 2022, 1:43
  
  Yes, also found it a bad idea, knowing about the drs problem.
Green Flag (@greenflag)
23rd May 2022, 22:28

Perez is the new Bottas, a compliant wingman.
1. Esploratore (@esploratore1)
  24th May 2022, 1:44
  
  At least he’s now able to do what bottas was doing, most of last season he wasn’t even close enough to do the bottas’ job!
2. Noframingplease (@)
  24th May 2022, 8:26
  
  Looking at his performance that would be the obvious choice of RB. But I can’t remember there was such a load of negativity here when Bottas wingmand Lewis in the same way for years. Even when bottas was in comparison with Perez more times faster than his teammate. I know Racefans has a lot more sir lewis fans, but this is beginning a bit hilarious
  1. Lee1
    24th May 2022, 11:49
    
    There were a number of times where Lewis let Bottas past at the request of the team. There were also occasions where Bottas let Lewis past and the team said he would be paid back later and they did just that!
    1. RomTrain (@romtrain)
      24th May 2022, 12:36
      
      +1
    2. Robbie (@robbie)
      24th May 2022, 14:47
      
      Lee1 A number of times? Perhaps a few right? And was LH trailing in the WDC at the time? Threatened with a competitive driver in another car who had gotten the jump on the Championships? Or was this love fest of ‘after you, no no I insist, after you’ that you’re talking about between LH and VB from when they were dominating and taking 1-2’s (sometimes 1-3’s and 1-4’s)?
    3. Noframingplease (@)
      25th May 2022, 7:35
      
      @lee1 Funny how things are being ripped from the context. First: it’s the first time RB has a driver who can occasionally follow Max. It’s the first time they gave teamorders. And looking what that brought (in points) that was totally understandable. Reactions here: to soon in the season (but it’s more: where can we bash this evil team that robbed our GOAT from his title). Peter windsor (nevertheless also a great Sir L. Fan) explains it for you. https://youtu.be/ZArfDuxhN2c
  2. Robbie (@robbie)
    24th May 2022, 14:58
    
    @nofanboysplease Exactly. When VB came along to Mercedes it was all about the wonderful roses and kittens relationship on the team post-Nico. LH fans were relieved and overjoyed that LH no longer had this thorn in his side and rather a compliant non-competing teammate instead. Sure TW said a few times ‘now now if VB gets competitive the gloves will have to come off between the drivers,’ but of course one year contract after one year contract the gloves never did have to come off. And LH gets goat status by many, as does MS have that same status by many having had his teammates actually under contract to not compete. One race in a competitive season during a competitive race and Max gets the strategy nod and RBR are evil villains for it. Typical shoe on the other foot stuff.
    1. Noframingplease (@)
      25th May 2022, 7:23
      
      @robbie +1
  3. x303 (@x303)
    25th May 2022, 9:42
    
    But I can’t remember there was such a load of negativity here when Bottas wingmand Lewis in the same way for years.
    
    Just look at all the “Valterri, it’s James” and the “wingman” comments from past years @nofanboysplease (and @robbie btw ;) ). There was a lot of criticism at the time. Same as now: people generally don’t like team orders, regardless of the team or drivers involved.
Mr Squiggle
23rd May 2022, 23:14

This is why Danny Ric left Red Bull, even after he was promised equal car and equal equipment by horner.

Unless red bull promise equal strategy, otherwise known as fair play, the promise of equal car and equal equipment doesn’t count for much when it matters on track
1. HJ
  24th May 2022, 5:32
  
  Danny Ric has trouble keeping up with the youngsters nowadays ;-). And that already started at RBR. He just bailed out and went to a team where he was no. 1.
  
  Team orders are normal in F1. Any team in a championship race uses them. The stakes are just to high. I don’t understand why some make such a fuss about it.
  1. S
    24th May 2022, 7:06
    
    Team orders are normal in F1. Any team in a championship race uses them. The stakes are just to high. I don’t understand why some make such a fuss about it.
    
    Because they are awful and rob viewers of a true sporting competition. Team/Manufacturer orders directly manipulate race action and results and should be outlawed and punished heavily.
    
    Of course, that probably won’t ever be what actually happens, though.
    1. MacLeod (@macleod)
      24th May 2022, 7:43
      
      Real fans knows this happens and nothing will ever change that. I think they solved it very nicly no conflict at all.
      1. S
        25th May 2022, 7:29
        
        Real fans knows this happens and nothing will ever change that
        
        There’s that “real fans” fallacy again…..
        ‘Real fans’ of any sport shouldn’t accept cheating. Except in F1, apparently.
        
        And such manipulation certainly can be eliminated, it just won’t be – because the teams want it, the FIA accept it, and the broadcasters love the controversy.
    2. Sham (@sham)
      24th May 2022, 7:44
      
      Trying to ban coaching and team orders won’t work. There are always ways around it. Fernando is faster than you.
      
      Red Bull deliberately gave Perez only the info he needed, and the different strategies were only the position they would finish the race in. It’s a shame to do it this early in the season, but that’s Red Bull for you – to be fair, it makes more sense when the championship looks tight.
      I guess we find out this year how willing Perez is to stand up to the team.
      1. S
        25th May 2022, 7:41
        
        There are always ways around it. Fernando is faster than you.
        
        Everyone knew what that meant, even before it was actually said.
        
        Again, it can be removed by controlling the data and information between car and team – but there has to be a desire from those within F1 to do it first. And there simply isn’t.
        
        I have no problem with putting cars on different strategies – but I do have a huge issue with actively manipulating the competition when the drivers should be driving alone and unaided. Coaching, informing drivers on laptimes and gaps, telling drivers which settings and performance modifications to make to the car, or even warning them of potential car damage should be forbidden, AFAIC.
        They did just fine without radios and telemetry before, and nobody complained about drivers being unable to understand their car or the race around them them. They got in the car, ran their own race, and got out and the end. The way a sport should be.
        The team does the car, and the driver does the driving.
        They can use the pit board if they want to communicate with each other.
        
        And just for comparison – the coach isn’t on the field with the players in many other sports, but they are in F1. Not just as active as the drivers, but more so.
      2. Sihrtogg (@sihrtogg)
        26th May 2022, 17:17
        
        Again, it can be removed by controlling the data and information between car and team
        
        @S
        Banning communication during the race won’t stop drivers from having a brain and acting in the best interest of their team autonomously.
        
        The teams will make it clear ahead of the race what is expected of their drivers in various situations. A driver can choose to ignore that, but that’s just the same as ignoring communication during the race. “My radio wasn’t working” as DC likes to suggest.
        
        In this case Perez’s only chance to stay ahead for the win was to crash Max out of the race in a wheel to wheel fight. If you do that, you know it’s your last race in F1.
    3. Carbonized
      24th May 2022, 13:37
      
      “Because they are awful and rob viewers of a true sporting competition. ”
      And that was one of Horner and and Verstapen’s fans argument when Merc was doing it. I remember him winning about how the entertainment was robbed out of the fans bla bla bla. At least Merc had the decency to wait for the math to make sense a little latter into the season. “Thank you to Checo, he is a great team mate” M.V.
      1. S
        25th May 2022, 7:45
        
        And that was one of Horner and and Verstapen’s fans argument when Merc was doing it.
        
        It’s a completely valid argument.
        Don’t let the issue regarding who it comes from or how two-faced they are blind you to the merit of that particular point.
        
        Merc is no better, by the way. Neither is Ferrari, who are also famous for it. Several other teams have had runs of it too in the past.
        There should be no point in the season where it becomes acceptable, unless we can collectively all agree that F1 isn’t actually a sport at all.
Bradders (@bradders)
24th May 2022, 8:06

“If it’s not you, it’s allowed.”

LOL.
baasbas
24th May 2022, 9:40

As with most things, it’s not a clear cut situation. There are multiple angles. Leclerc retiring as also a factor. But most of all was the blessing in disguise, the DRS issue. All the factors combined made them go for an alternate tire strategy. I feel it is largely luck it actually turned out the best strategy… Tire degradation was worse than anticipated. Probably because of the heat. Plenty of ‘cool the car’ messages down the field…

Slight similarities with ’16, his first win? Leader(s) fell away. What is left is a battle of 2 tire strategies. And today again the (on paper) least preferred strategy appeared to be the best one.
sumedh
24th May 2022, 11:14

I don’t understand why Red Bull pitted Max on same lap as Russell. It probably would have been easier to overcut the Mercedes. A rare tactical error from Red Bull, I feel
HJ
24th May 2022, 17:13

Maybe MV would’ve returned on the track in an unfavourable position? So bad trackposition?
I’m not sure, just speculating.
PlosslF1 (@f1-ploss)
24th May 2022, 19:10

You couldn’t make it up, for years MB have been slated for this even though they let them race till there’s a clear number 1 in with a shout, RB do it on race 6 and its OK and everyone does it what’s the fuss.
Last time I saw this much back peddling was during the Tour de France lol….
1. Robbie (@robbie)
  24th May 2022, 22:15
  
  @f1-ploss Except that MB ensured a clear number one from race 1’s of seasons by retaining the likes of zero-race-craft Bottas who season after season was going to be VB 2.0 and yet within a handful of races was definitely not going to be their go-to guy, yet again. VB was not there, one year contract after one year contract, to disrupt LH in any way. And he didn’t. He was there to keep the peace on the team and not be a bother. Oh, and to grab some Constructor points.
  
  So it’s funny to say ‘you couldn’t make it up’ when you are making up your own reality that there was racing on the team until the math said there was a clear number one. At MB that math, with VB there, started at race one.
  1. PlosslF1 (@f1-ploss)
    24th May 2022, 22:40
    
    I think the 2019 opening Australian GP result shows that ‘from race 1’ is just hyperbole , but I cant think of any races this early in the season where BOT was basically told that your a tailgunner, if BOT was good enough to win the WDC then he would be allowed too. But getting back to my point, MB were rightly or wrongly lambasted for what RB did on Sunday yet all we see is back peddling mixed with ‘nothing to see here’….Now the shoe is on the other foot its hilarious seeing all these bicycles going backwards….
    1. Robbie (@robbie)
      25th May 2022, 14:52
      
      @f1-ploss No I do hear you that some are saying ‘nothing to see here’ and for the record I don’t think I have ever been too bent out of shape about VB giving it up for LH because I expected it after seeing what little challenge he was going to present. I do think though that it can still be acknowledged, as it is being for Max with Checo, that LH wasn’t challenged by a teammate in the same (in his case generally dominant) car after Nico retired. And that adds a bit of a different element to this for some fans, no? When one team is dominant and even the one guy with the same car can’t do anything about it, it becomes more boring and predictable for many, and that is when wishes or frustrations for a better teammate and this theoretically better races arise.
Rob Foster
25th May 2022, 2:44

CHECO: We’ll need to speak later
RED BULL: Always stay behind Max.
No more talking.