Perez frustrated by Red Bull team orders: I deserved to win

The Mexican led the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix for a long stretch after teammate Max Verstappen fell back following a trip to the gravel

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Formula One F1 - Spanish Grand Prix - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain - May 22, 2022 Second placed Sergio Perez of Red Bull celebrates with a trophy on the podium after the race REUTERS/Albert Gea

Sergio Perez has said that he will be discussing Red Bull’s tactics at the 2022 Spanish GP internally with the team after he lost out on a potential victory due to team orders, and feels he should have been standing on the top step of the podium.

Perez passed MercedesGeorge Russell for the lead in the middle of the race and looked to be the fastest car on track for a period, but was forced to give up first position to teammate Max Verstappen by the team in the closing stages of the Spanish GP.

The Mexican said on the radio that he wanted to discuss the decision after the race, and in the paddock after the chequered flag said that the decision was “frustrating” given his pace in Barcelona.

“I think so,” Perez told Sky Sports F1 when asked if he should have won the race. 

“Especially at the beginning when I gave the position to Max, thinking I was going to get it back later. But then we swapped strategies, he went for the three [stops] I went for two, and it turned out to be the better strategy, the one he was on. 

“It’s a bit frustrating from my side, but it’s a great team result.

“I would say that the momentum cannot be better for us now, we are at the top of the Constructors’ Standings. But we still have to talk internally.”

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in action during the Spanish Grand Prix REUTERS/Albert Gea

Perez on the radio

The two Red Bull drivers were on differing strategies, which Perez acknowledged after the race, but on the radio at the time of the call he said: “That’s not fair but ok”.

Meanwhile once the pair had crossed the line, the driver said the result was “Nice for the team, but we need to talk.”

Despite finishing in second, the result marked the best ever result for Perez in Spain, while he also took the extra point for fastest lap.

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