For Horner, there will be no team orders between drivers
After two victorious races shared between his drivers, Christian Horner made it clear and assured that there will be no hierarchy or team orders between Verstappen and Pérez. This sets the stage for an interesting duel.
There is no team hierarchy at Red Bull. Queried by our colleagues at Speedcafe.com, team principal Christian Horner confirms that both drivers will be allowed to compete against each other on the track.
During the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, engineers repeatedly discussed time objectives with their two drivers. Pérez was even asked towards the end of the race to slow down in order to allow Verstappen to catch up, but the Mexican immediately understood and refused. However, for Christian Horner, things are clear: there will be no hierarchy or team orders, as long as both drivers respect each other and respect the car. He stated, “We have two very mature drivers, they have worked together and they have worked well together,” and added that both drivers are free to race today, but the rules of engagement are to respect each other and respect the cars you drive.
This decision is not without reminding us of the situation at Mercedes with Hamilton and Rosberg, who were allowed to fight, sometimes for the worse. The question will be whether Max Verstappen will accept this situation for long, as he will have for the first time a true teammate capable of challenging for the world title. Nothing is certain.
