Max Verstappen refuses to give way to teammate Sergio Perez in move that leaves the Mexican and his team baffled.

Having clashed with Lewis Hamilton earlier in the race, the reminder of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix was all about damage limitation for Verstappen.

The subsequent stop for a new front wing and 5s time penalty dropped the world champion down the order but over the course of the race he worked his way back through the field.

In the closing stages, as Perez struggled following the safety car restart, the Mexican was ordered to move aside for his teammate in order that he could deprive Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc of points.

Unable to catch the pair, Verstappen was looking to finish sixth when he was called on to let Perez through, the Mexican seeking to claim runner-up spot in the championship from Leclerc.

However, the Dutchman pressed on refusing to allow his teammate to pass.

"Max, let Checo through please," asked his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who subsequently added "what happened?"

"I told you last summer, don't ask that again to me," snapped Verstappen. "OK, are we clear about that? I gave my reasons and I stand by it."

Meanwhile, as he crossed the line in seventh, meaning he heads to Abu Dhabi on the same points as Leclerc, Perez said: "Thank you for that, guys. Thank you."

"I'm sorry about that, Checo," said Christian Horner.

"It shows who he really is," replied Perez.

"After all I've done for him, it's a bit disappointing to be honest," the Mexican subsequently told reporters. "I have no idea. I'm really surprised."

Meanwhile, TV cameras picked up on Horner in discussion with Verstappen and his manager Raymond Vermeulen.

"I have my reasons for that," Verstappen subsequently told reporters. "We just discussed that, and I think it was better that we finally sat together and spoke about it, and just move forward from here.

"For sure, if we go to Abu Dhabi and he needs the points, because they're tied, it's not the end of the world, it's all about who finishes ahead anyway. If he needs the help, I'll be there," he added.

"But it's good that we talked about it now and basically cleared everything that was there why I didn't do it."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 18/11/2022 14:07

"Max complains to much. He can come of a bit petty. Intentional or not."

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2. Posted by kenji, 16/11/2022 1:58

"@Ricardo sanchez...Thanks for your reply. What I'm saying is that there is a flood of disapproval for Verstappen's actions...all made without knowing the genesis of this event! Social media fans the flames of dissension and the masses respond, negatively. Causality is the key here...no? Just why did Verstappen reject the call to let Perez past when they, according to Verstappen, had already discussed this possible eventuality and they knew how he, Verstappen,if tasked, would react.If his response was already known why make a request knowing that? I have no love for either driver however I do believe that the facts need to be aired and then sensible reactions can be made otherwise all this conjecture is simply that...conjecture. A point lost on the moral warriors."

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3. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 15/11/2022 17:59

"@kenji - so you’re saying Verstappen is the victim in this tale? As far as I can see, far from having it in for him, the F1 world has been pretty accommodating to Mr Verstappen. Most notably through Masi’s assistance at Abu Dhabi and the insignificant slap on the wrist for the budget cap breach. Other drivers would probably like to be victims of that kind of treatment. "

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4. Posted by elsiebc, 15/11/2022 16:04

"For those who claim Max has lost his supporters and it will come back to haunt him, just witness all the accolades for Vettel these past couple years. "Multi twentyone" anybody?"

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5. Posted by Spindoctor, 15/11/2022 11:44

"What goes around, comes around...."

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6. Posted by dejan, 14/11/2022 18:06

"If it was not for Sergio, Max would have possibly lost the championship in 2021. The least he could do is yield a meaningless for him point this year when everything has already been decided for him in the best possible way.

One could be a graceful winner and get some good will even in his critics' eyes but this does the opposite"

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7. Posted by Paulinho, 14/11/2022 17:23

"Obviously, a lot goes on behind closed doors at Red Bull and probably lots of other teams as well. I do wonder if Max's dad ever sits in on Red Bull meetings and offers up some of his "life" experiences to help the team move forward. "

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8. Posted by MadMalc114, 14/11/2022 14:05

"My own feeling is that Max is just out for MAX, and not a team player it is easy to forget things that have happened in the past in the heat of the moment, but I think this actually shows precisely how Max thinks and feels he deserves everything even if this does cost anyone points if two drivers cannot get things together so that each of them ends up by helping all the efforts of the team and their work, that is beyond being selfish this is being mean and it will, in the end, become worse unless this is stopped and sorted out now, he will lose many fans by this action when you start to look back through his career it really makes you wonder is this a worthy Formula One Champions outlook on the sport."

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9. Posted by Mad Matt, 14/11/2022 8:39

"Perhaps he was still in a bad mood following his penalty... which seemed a little harsh to me.

More seriously, I suspect there must be something else going on given how helpful Sergio has been to Max in the past (Monaco apart)."

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10. Posted by kenji, 14/11/2022 3:02

"At face value it appears that the F1 world has it in for Verstappen...despite knowing the background! Max has already stated that prior to the race certain situations had been discussed with the team and that he'd made certain decisions regarding certain 'incidents' that have occurred and his reaction to them. I am no supporter of Verstappen but what you see is what you get with him and if he stated his intentions prior to the race then Red Bull should come clean and disclose the background to them in order to put the issue into context. Allegations of 'fixing' in Monaco should be revisited if that is the point of conflict, not simply swept away as in the past, this doesn't work. Then again it may simply be some other incident that requires 'payback', according to Verstappen..who knows, but this, I fear, will be a sore point going forward."

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11. Posted by 6/10ths killer, 14/11/2022 0:47

"Fambank...I'm not surprised at all, about how Max has disappointed many of his fan base around the world, and especially Holland."

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12. Posted by Chester, 13/11/2022 23:10

"Max needs to realize that it takes a team to win. I am a deep, deep Alonso fan, but Max's actions this weekend have me thinking he is following Alonso's playbook for team harmony. Grow up, Max. You spoiled my elation at Alonso finishing 5th."

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13. Posted by Superbird70, 13/11/2022 22:26

"This will come back to haunt Max.
"

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14. Posted by Fambank, 13/11/2022 22:08

"Trust me, his Dutch fanbase is as disgusted as the rest of the world.
What a @#$$. And I say this as one of his fans."

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15. Posted by Batman, 13/11/2022 21:57

"Undignified!"

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Discontent at Red Bull as Max refuses to yield to his teammate Perez

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