Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Is Red Bull better or worse off one year after Horner's sacking? Our writers have their say

Formula 1
British GP
Is Red Bull better or worse off one year after Horner's sacking? Our writers have their say

Vinales: 'KTM sent me a contract, I signed it, and two weeks later they cancelled it'

MotoGP
German GP
Vinales: 'KTM sent me a contract, I signed it, and two weeks later they cancelled it'

One year on: How Red Bull changed post-Horner

Formula 1
British GP
One year on: How Red Bull changed post-Horner

How technical issues have cost Bagnaia 40 points in the MotoGP title fight

MotoGP
German GP
How technical issues have cost Bagnaia 40 points in the MotoGP title fight

Why there are no quick fixes for all of Verstappen’s frustrations at Red Bull

Feature
Formula 1
British GP
Why there are no quick fixes for all of Verstappen’s frustrations at Red Bull

Top five roles on Motorsport Jobs this week

General
Top five roles on Motorsport Jobs this week

Injured Zarco hit with double long lap for Barcelona crash

MotoGP
German GP
Injured Zarco hit with double long lap for Barcelona crash

Toyota to enter hydrogen-powered car in 2027 Dakar Rally

Dakar
Toyota to enter hydrogen-powered car in 2027 Dakar Rally

Was Red Bull right to use team orders in the Spanish GP? | Paddock Packdown

Max Verstappen fought back from an early spin and a DRS issue to reclaim the lead of the Formula 1 championship by winning Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen fought back from an early spin and a DRS issue to reclaim the lead of the Formula 1 championship by winning Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.

While it was a great day for Red Bull, it was not without some internal tension as it used team orders twice during the race, asking Sergio Perez to move aside for Verstappen.

Perez told Red Bull it was “very unfair” when he was asked to let Verstappen through for the lead entering the closing stages of the race, and that he would want talks to discuss the decision.

Red Bull explained that the cars were on vastly different strategies, making it sensible to ensure Verstappen was not held up, but it nevertheless reignited the debate about number one versus number two drivers at F1 teams.

In the latest edition of Paddock Packdown, Autosport F1 Reporter Luke Smith is joined by Autosport F1 Editor Matt Kew in Barcelona to discuss Red Bull’s use of team orders, whether it was the right call, and how the balance of power has now shifted in this year’s title race.

Previous article What is behind Verstappen's recurrent DRS problems
Next article Autosport Podcast: F1 Spanish Grand Prix Review

Top Comments