{"id":1510625,"date":"2022-05-23T04:03:48","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T08:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1510625"},"modified":"2022-05-23T07:01:07","modified_gmt":"2022-05-23T11:01:07","slug":"red-bull-strategy-to-protect-max-verstappen-spain-formula-1-will-never-fully-conquer-united-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/red-bull-strategy-to-protect-max-verstappen-spain-formula-1-will-never-fully-conquer-united-states\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Bull\u2019s Strategy to Protect Max Verstappen In Spain Is Why Formula 1 Will Never Fully Conquer the United States"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you could imagine what owning 5% of the New York Yankees would be like in the days when George Steinbrenner ran the team, then you understand the meaning of \u201climited partner.\u201d Sergio Perez<\/a> grasps Formula 1\u2019s<\/a> version of subjugation. He may have presumed it before, and now there\u2019s no doubt that he is an afterthought to Red Bull Racing unless Max Verstappen<\/a> is out of contention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fact that F1 teams frequently marginalize one driver to prioritize his teammate isn\u2019t sitting well with Perez following events at the Spanish Grand Prix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For what it\u2019s worth, it\u2019s hard to imagine American sports fans ever embracing such decision-making either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Max Verstappen is back atop the Formula 1 standings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Sergio
Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the press conference after the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Spain at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on May 22, 2022. | Dan Istitene\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Defending champion Max Verstappen has moved to the top of the 2022 Formula 1 standings through six races. His victory in Sunday\u2019s Spanish Grand Prix was the young Dutch star\u2019s third in a row. It brought him to 110 points for the season, moving Verstappen ahead of Charles Leclerc (104) of Ferrari. Sergio Perez, George Russell, and Carlos Sainz Jr. round out the top five.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verstappen has won four races overall. In fact, he has won every race that he\u2019s finished. The issue at Red Bull is that power unit failures knocked him out of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, then again in Australia. That cost him points and allowed Leclerc to roar to the lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perez suffered similar engine woes at Bahrain. However, he salvaged the day for Ferrari in the Australian Grand Prix by placing second. The points associated with that effort may prove valuable as Red Bull battles with Ferrari and Mercedes for the Constructors\u2019 Championship, significant when it comes to allocated Formula 1 performance money at the end of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Red Bull told Sergio Perez to back down during the Spanish Grand Prix<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qfKLplcYh4Q\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Formula 1 fans have come to expect the unexpected. The fact that defending Max Verstappen retired from two of the first five races was merely the beginning. Charles Leclerc has led the much-anticipated Ferrari resurgence in a season in which seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton has faded to also-run status while Mercedes reboots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spanish Grand Prix was no less wild. Verstappen won, but not before sliding onto the gravel trap on Turn 4 early in the day, helping Leclerc establish a commanding lead. On Lap 27, however, Leclerc\u2019s Ferrari suddenly lost power. Leclerc made it back to the paddock and retired for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just minutes earlier, George Russell held the lead over Verstappen, who was struggling with DRS problems. Sergio Perez opined that he had the tires and speed to go challenge Russell, theoretically opening the door for Verstappen. However, the Red Bull team told him that wasn\u2019t the play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When pit stops became a factor midway through the race, Perez took the top spot, and Verstappen remained in contention. It wouldn\u2019t last, however. The Red Bull command center radioed Perez with instructions not to impede his teammate, which is how F1 teams go about telling a driver to give way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verstappen made the pass and Perez settled into second place, which was the order when the checkered flag came down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am happy for the team but we will speak later,” Perez advised his team, according to SkySports<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sergio Perez is hardly the first driver t<\/strong>o land in that position<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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