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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Liam Prenderville

Christian Horner compares Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez rivalry to famous Red Bull spat

Red Bull chief Christian Horner has joked Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are harder to manage than former teammates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

World champion Verstappen ignored team orders to let teammate Perez overtake him in Sao Paulo in the penultimate race of the 2022 F1 season.

That decision ultimately had an impact in Perez's quest for second spot in the drivers standings, with Charles Leclerc pipping him in Abu Dhabi.

Verstappen has since claimed 'something happened' earlier this term which led to his stance, with many believing he is referencing Perez's alleged intentional crash in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Despite the fractions, it is a much healthier relationship than former Red Bull teammates Vettel and Webber, who famously clashed in Malaysia in 2013.

Vettel ignored orders to stay in second spot behind his teammate and overtook Webber with a dangerous manoeuvre before going on to win the race.

Their relationship soured as a result with Webber pointing the finger at Horner, who was asked about how difficult it was to manage the pair.

Red Bull pair Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber on the podium after the controversial 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix (MOHD RASFAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to Sky Germany, the Red Bull chief joked: "Compared to our current drivers, easy. They were a great pair.

“We had some fantastic times when you look back now at what we did together. We’re all a bit older. Some a bit bigger. It was incredible, an incredible time for the team. Incredible time for these guys."

Webber retired at the end of the 2013 season and admitted he took the decision out of Red Bull's hands with something evidently needing to change as relations became 'strained'.

The pair are friends again now but speaking earlier this year, Webber admitted: "“It was obviously pretty tense when you’re fighting for championships at the front together. It’s easier to be team mates when you’re fighting for points but obviously, championships and wins is a bit more challenging."

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