Red Bull driver Max Verstappen overrode team orders that had instructed him to allow Sergio Perez through during the last lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Red Bull had a tough day the Interlagos Circuit and neither Perez nor Verstappen were in with a realistic chance of a podium finish.
It was an especially promising outing for Mercedes.
After a season that has posed the Silver Arrows plenty of problems following an extended period of success previously, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finished the race with a 1-2 finish for Mercedes.
This marks George Russell’s first F1 race win and the driver was ecstatic with how things unfolded following his pole position from yesterday.
Following an early collision with Hamilton, Verstappen spent most of the day outside the points.
However, he made a late surge at even saw himself as high as P5.
Why did Verstappen not allow Perez through?
With one eye on the championship points and Perez’ battle for points with Leclerc, Verstappen was asked to give up his position.
“If you can’t cross Alonso, we would like you to give your position back to Checo (Perez),” Verstappen was told over team radio.
“I told you already last time. Don’t ask that again to me. Are we clear about that? I gave my reasons and I stand by it,” Verstappen answered.
Meanwhile, here’s what Perez said over team radio: “It shows who he really is.”
He finished the race a position in front of Perez in P6.
A theory had been going around that the crash between Perez and Verstappen a few weeks back was not entirely accidental.
Perhaps it was due to his disappointment from that day that Verstappen chose to not take Red Bull’s advice.
It may have just been in the heat of the event, but Verstappen’s clear refusal to give up his position despite having already wrapped up the championship shows that there is certainly some animosity between the two.
He was clearly trying to make a point to his team as well as Perez.