(Video) “Someone decided against it,” Max Verstappen takes subtle dig at Carlos Sainz for ending Sergio Perez’s race in Azerbaijan
Max Verstappen is known for taking slight jibes at various incidents within the F1 sphere.
Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez, images via IMAGO and screenshot via X/redbulletin
The Azerbaijan GP weekend was an interesting event. Ferrari and McLaren battled for the race’s lead since the lights went out, but Red Bull was not far off with Sergio Perez remaining a close threat. Moreover, the Mexican was in contention for the race win in the final few laps, but had a collision with Carlos Sainz. Though this incident had been vaguely forgotten, Max Verstappen reignited the debate around it by taking a subtle jibe at the Spaniard.
Carlos Sainz started P3 at the Azerbaijan GP but lost the place on the first lap to Sergio Perez and stayed in P4 for the rest of the race. Despite his subpar start, the 30-year-old was adamant about making the most of the SF-24’s pace and started his charge toward the front. He slowly caught up to the rear of Perez’s Red Bull and made himself a candidate to get on top of the rostrum.
Sainz overtook the 34-year-old at the exit of turn one. However, in a span of a few seconds, his third place soon turned into a DNF, as Perez and he crashed towards the run to turn three, and ended the Spanish-speaking pair’s race.
It was a promising race, in a way. I think you can clearly see on Checo’s[Sergio Perez’s] side that it was working. Like, he was fighting for the win, unfortunately someone decided against it.
Max Verstappen said
Subsequently, Max Verstappen reflected on the crash and claimed that until the incident Perez was a contender for the win. He then took a slight jibe at Sainz and asserted that a certain driver decided against Perez finishing a race in a good position.
Helmut Marko’s take on Max Verstappen retiring sooner than anticipated
On the other hand, Verstappen has been quite vocal about the problems within F1 recently. The Dutchman was handed a penalty for swearing in FIA’s press conference but remained stubborn on not flexing to the governing body’s outrageous demands.
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko then gave a glimpse into how such actions by the FIA could drive away the reigning champion from the sport.
Max has achieved great achievements. But it’s important for him to have fun and enjoy the sport, If that is gradually ruined for him, then his personality is.., if he says, ‘Ok, that’s it’, then he means it. But I don’t hope that the current situation will really make him retiring any time soon.
Helmut Marko said in an interview with Formula1.de
Though the Austrian admitted that the current situation was not a nice show, he reckoned that such actions would not make Verstappen retire anytime soon. However, the 26-year-old has earlier stated his intentions to retire at a young age. This would help him focus on other things in his life and explore other forms of racing.
Geetansh Pasricha
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