Red Bull admits Brazil "mistakes" amid fallout from Verstappen team orders
Red Bull Racing has admitted to mishandling team orders at the end of the Brazilian grand prix.
Max Verstappen during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. (Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)
The team released a statement on Thursday claiming that Max Verstappen had only been informed of the team's direction "at the final corner" and "with little time to react…"
The statement follows a wave of criticism and speculation following Verstappen's apparent disregard for team orders, intended to give teammate Sergio Perez the advantage in his fight for second place in the World Drivers' Championship standings.
As a team we made some mistakes in Brazil. We had not envisaged the situation that unfolded on the last lap and we had not agreed a strategy for such a scenario before the race. Regretfully, Max was only informed at the final corner of the request to give up position without all the necessary information being relayed. This put Max, who has always been an open and fair team player, in a compromising situation with little time to react which was not our intention. Following the race Max spoke openly and honestly, allowing for both drivers to resolve any outstanding issues or concerns. The Team accept Max's reasoning, the conversation was a personal matter which will remain private between the team and no further comment will be made.
The statement from the team appeared to contradict the comments from Verstappen following the race, implying that he had intentionally disobeyed the order.
"We put everything on the table why, and I gave my reasons."
"I’m not going to say why, but I think they understood."
"I already explained it to them before, so it was not new to me, and not new to them," said Verstappen after the race.
The team acknowledged these comments, stating "Max spoke openly and honestly, allowing for both drivers to resolve any outstanding issues or concerns."
Despite the acknowledgement, the two comments remain in direct contradiction, with mystery still surrounding Verstappen's 'reasons' for not assisting Perez in his battle for runner up in the standings.
The team's concluded by blaming fans for fanning the flames of the controversy.
"The events that followed from a social media point of view are completely unacceptable."
The abusive online behaviour towards Max, Checo, the Team and their respective families is shocking and saddening and unfortunately is something that we as a sport are having to address with depressing regularity. There is no place for it in racing or society as a whole and we need to do and be better. At the end of the day this is a sport, we are here to race. Death threats, hate mail, vitriol towards extended family members is deplorable. We value inclusion and want a safe space for everyone to work in and enjoy our sport. The abuse needs to stop.
