Revealed: Verstappen’s radio silence amid Red Bull’s request to slow down

Revealed: Verstappen’s radio silence amid Red Bull’s request to slow down

 

 

 

Verstappen recovered from 15th on the grid to finish second behind teammate Sergio Perez in Jeddah but was able to retain a one-point championship lead thanks to a last-gasp effort to claim the fastest lap. “What’s in it for Perez to help?” – Fresh friction at Red Bull?Can Red Bull win every race this season?Video of Can Red Bull win every race this season?Both Verstappen and Perez reported reliability concerns in the closing stages of the race, and with the gap between them hovering at around five seconds, Red Bull asked both drivers to stick to a target lap time of 1m33.00s. A transcript of the radio communications between Verstappen and his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase have revealed the Dutchman failed to respond to multiple requests to slow down. Verstappen was heard asking for information about the fastest lap towards the end, before he posted a new benchmark on the final lap of the race to snatch the bonus point away from Perez. Verstappen’s team radio 

Lap 39 GP: Ok Max that was track limits for Turn 23 again. We will like to target a 33.0. 33.0.GP: Max any more feedback on that issue from before?VER: Well it’s still thereGP: Yup understood. Ok target 33.0. 33.0Lap 40 GP: That’s 33.0GP: Max, confirm 33.0Lap 41GP: 33.0. 33.0Lap 43GP: Max, can you target 33:0 please?Lap 45GP: Ok that’s 5 laps remaining coming up. Gap is 5+VER: What’s the fastest lap?GP: We are not concerned about that at the moment Max.VER: Yeah but I am. GP: So, 32.1, 32.1. Lap 49GP: And this is your final lap. Chequered flagPerez was left irritated about the “different information” he received about the fastest lap, something that was highlighted in his late-race radio exchanges to race engineer Hugh Bird. 

Perez’s team radio Lap 39HB: Ok back to target now. So we’re just covering Fernando he is doing 33.1PER: Sorry repeatHB: Target lap time 33.0. Max targetting the same. For reference that is +0.8 on the dash. +0.8.PER: I’m having a bit of a long brake pedalLap 40HB: Yeah copy we’re having a lookLap 41HB: Target 32.6. +0.4PER: Is Max doing the same? HB: Max’s last lap is 32.6PER: Then why did you tell me 33:0?HB: Just target plus four, jobs a good’unPER: We are pushing without a reason guys, not smart to doLap 42 HB: Your lap 32.6. Max’s lap 32.6PER: Guys we don’t really need thisHB: 8 laps to goPER: Let’s go. Let’s go do 33.0Lap 42PER: What is the gap?HB: Gap is 4.3PER: So are we pushing now?HB: You’re free to push. Free to pushLap 45HB: 5 laps to go. Target +0.8. Gap 5.5 secondsHB: Max’s last lap 33.0Lap 48PER: What is the fastest lap at the moment?HB: You’ve got the fastest lap. That’s a 32.1Chequered flag PER: Did we get the fastest lap in the end or?HB: You were pipped on the last lapPER: Ah, great! Aha

Related “What’s in it for Perez to help?” – Fresh friction despite Red Bull dominance? ‘The ultimate test’ – Can Russell keep Hamilton behind? 

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