The World Champion comprehended the maneuver executed by his Red Bull teammate in the Mexico City Grand Prix but believed that a slight error in judgment was responsible for the collision that resulted in Sergio Perez’s exit.
Max Verstappen has pinpointed the mistake made by Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez on the opening lap of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
From third and fifth on the grid respectively, Verstappen sliced past pole-sitter Charles Leclerc to grab the inside line of Turn 1 with Perez opting for the outside line, the trio going three-abreast into the braking zone.
However, as Perez turned the RB19 in, he received a thump from the left-front of Leclerc’s Ferrari, tipping him into the air and severely damaging the floor and sidepod.
Leclerc had been unable to move further right thanks to the presence of Verstappen, with the World Champion sympathetic towards the driver of the sister Red Bull.
Max Verstappen points out Perez wrong
“I understand because it is his home Grand Prix,” Verstappen told media including RacingNews365.
“You want to be on the podium, I fully understand that he went around the outside and he tried [to pass for the lead].
“Looking at the footage, I think he could have left a little bit more space, but on the other hand, if it would have worked, you look amazing.
“I think it’s just more the excitement of wanting to be on the podium, and this time, it didn’t work out unfortunately.
“At the time, I didn’t really see a lot, at one point, I just saw a car that was flying in the air, but then I saw the footage after the race.
“While I was driving, it was a bit hard because I was mainly focusing on Charles, because I couldn’t see what was happening on the outside.”
