With the early leader Perez starting to fight with his psychics, he had started falling on the nails of the second Verstappen again. As the pair began to run closely, Pereth was told on the group radio “no fights” before Verstappen made his move and overtook him to take the lead in the 15th lap. While the exchange was interpreted by some as a calculated move to favor the league leader Verstappen, Horner insists the situation was very different. He said that at that stage of the race, Verstappen was much faster than Perez, so it made no sense to risk an accident with the couple fighting for the lead. “I think today was not strictly group command,” Horner explained. “It was just a question of just having a faster car and a slower car. “Max had a significant rhythm advantage over Checo at that point, who had quite heavy grains on his rear tires. So it’s just a question: guys, let’s not put each other up against the pitwall here. If a car is faster, you know, give in and let’s focus on getting the best result for the team. “ Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB18 Photo: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images Horner said recollections of the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, when then-Red Bull drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Verstappen clashed as they fought for the lead, meant the issue of co-operation had emerged in the race strategy morning talks. “The difference in pace between the two drivers was so significant and we discussed it in the morning,” he explained. “We said, ‘Look, if you fight with each other, just give each other space.’ And they did, because 2018 is not far off in the back of our minds. “It was very important for the drivers, at this stage of the championship, to be fair to each other in order to maximize the points against Ferrari. We know they have a very fast car right now, but we have seen how fast things can change. “As a team, we have to give priority to that.” Horner praised Perez for accepting the situation in the race and calculated that the excessive degradation of the tires suffered by the Mexican was most likely the result of the support that favored the qualification much more. “I think Cheko is a mature guy,” Horner said. “He gets the bigger picture and understands that it is a long, long championship. He is in the form of his career from the back of Monaco. “But I think that maybe, with the advantage of the aftermath that is coming this weekend, it might be too much of a burden on the set-ups with the back that it experienced. So this is something you need to take a look at. “Max was definitely in better shape in the race than Ceko in the back of that first stage.” Read also:
