Sergio Perez calls for clear-the-air talks over F1 Spanish Grand Prix team orders denies shot at race win

Sergio Perez will hold clear-the-air talks with Red Bull over their team orders at the Spanish Grand Prix.

Perez had his request to let him pass Max Verstappen turned down earlier in the race and was then ordered to move aside for eventual race winner Verstappen towards the latter stages of the grand prix.

The Mexican described the decision at the time as “very unfair” over the race radio and, in the immediate aftermath of finishing runner-up to Verstappen said: “I’m happy for the team but we need to speak later”.

But Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insisted it was the right call for the team, which resulted in a one-two and catapulted Verstappen into the leader in the drivers’ championship and moved Red Bull to the top of the constructors’ standings.

Horner said: “Our responsibility is to bring the two cars home with as many points as we can and, of course, Checo couldn’t see at the time, which he could see perfectly well now, is that he had a long stint to do on the medium tyre.

“Max had such a tyre advantage from a team perspective there is just no point in taking that risk with an intermittent DRS, with temperatures raging up and down. So, it was absolutely the right thing to do.

“I think we will discuss it and he will see the race plot. In the heat of the moment, you can understand it [his reaction].”