Formula 1

Red Bull defends Perez/Verstappen swap after 'unfair' radio call

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Red Bull has strongly defended the decision to swap Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen during Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.

The reigning Formula 1 champion was forced into a strategy-driven race in Barcelona as intermittent DRS problems meant he was bottled up behind George Russell's Mercedes following an early mistake.

A rapid stint on soft tyres ensured that Red Bull's plan worked as Verstappen was able to complete a third stop and resume ahead of the Briton.

However, it was after that point that the team requested Perez, who was leading, let his teammate by, a call the Mexican branded as "unfair" on the radio.

"We were on different tyre strategies at the time," he explained post-race.

“At the beginning, I gave the position to Max, thinking I was going to get it back later, but then, we swapped strategies – he went for the three, I went for the two-stop – it turned out that his was the better strategy to be on.

“It’s a bit frustrating from my side at the moment but, at the end of the day, it’s a great team result,” he accepted.

“We are now leading the Constructors’ [Championship], so that’s something that I’m very pleased with. There are a few things that we will discuss internally, just to understand what went on because, obviously, when you’re driving, you don’t understand much of the bigger picture.

“I wouldn’t say it was team orders, I think it’s just a normal thing. I think the team momentum couldn’t be any better. It’s a great team, we’re very united, so we just have to discuss a few things internally and that’s it.”

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Red Bull boss Christian Horner then explained the decision to Sky Sports, stating it was inevitable Verstappen would pass Perez even without the call.

"The last thing you want to risk is a DNF when you have got two cars that can potentially now one-two, and they were on different strategies, so it wasn’t a straight fight Max had such a tyre advantage," he said.

“Of course, Checo’s tyres wouldn’t have made it, we don’t think, to the end. So that’s why he pitted towards the end of the race to get that valuable, fastest lap as well.

“Our responsibility is to bring the cars home with as many points as we can. And of course, what Checo couldn’t see at the time, which I think he’d see perfectly well now, is that you had such a long stint to do on that medium tyre. Max had such a tyre advantage.

“From a team perspective, there’s just no point in taking, you know that risk with an intermittent DRS, with temperatures raging up and down. So it was absolutely the right thing to do.”

Horner has promised to "openly" discuss the matter with Perez to clear up any lingering questions ahead of this weekend's Monaco GP.

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