David Coulthard believes Max Verstappen was justified in his decision to ignore Red Bull team orders over the Sergio Perez row.
And the Formula 1 legend even suggested that Perez – the team's No.2 driver, even if officially there is no lead racer – should be more grateful for his seat. Verstappen has already won his second world title, and Red Bull's focus is now on a clean sweep by making the Mexican runner-up in the drivers' championship.
But last Sunday, with Verstappen leading his team-mate on the final lap at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Red Bull told the 25-year-old Dutchman to let Perez pass so he could get more points. He refused, replying: "I told you already last summer, guys, don't ask that again to me. Are we clear about that? I gave my reasons, and I stand by it." Perez, 32, fumed: "This shows who he really is."
Verstappen has been widely blasted for not being a team player, and Mexican Perez now goes into Sunday's final race of the season in Abu Dhabi joint second with Ferrari racer Charles Leclerc. But 13-time F1 race-winner Coulthard told Mirror Sport : "It was an open conversation and there's nothing to be interpreted – the team made a request, and the driver denied it.
"The answer was there before, and someone has come knocking again to try to get a different answer. Being consistent in your behaviour patterns is a quality – inconsistency is what you need to watch out for, because you don't know what you're dealing with."
But then Coulthard added: "Checo [Perez] was out of Formula 1 with no one knocking on his door. Red Bull gave him the opportunity to come back, and a car that's nailed on to win races. He's had a fair crack of the whip to try to beat Max, and he has consistently not delivered on the same level. He has occasionally done so, and I admire the victories he has had."
Coulthard does understand Perez's frustration, though, having been on the end of team orders during his own career. The 51-year-old Scot said: "I was offered a contract with Ferrari before I joined McLaren, and it stipulated that if I was running third and Michael Schumacher fourth, I would be told to move over.
"I couldn't bring myself to sign a contract which would mean I'd have to move over all the time, and with McLaren there was an equal opportunity. Then I found out that Mika Hakkinen was the guy that would win two world championships and I didn't, because he was quicker and he deserved those titles.
"The reason I took the team orders when I was told to move over for Mika was that I had one other choice, which was to leave. I had no other choice of anywhere else to go, so I chose the path which gave me a car and the opportunity to perform. If Checo [Perez] doesn't like it, then he can leave the team – but where is he going?
"So, for me, it's just another one of those sporting decisions. You'll never change the minds of those who feel Lewis Hamilton was robbed [of the world title] in Abu Dhabi last year, any more than they will give credit to Max for winning the championship, and vice versa. It was just one of those moments that comes and goes, and the teams will handle it.
"The reality is that Max is one of the elite drivers in the world. Elite drivers like the Schumachers and Sennas didn't pass through their career without examples of stand-offs and disagreements with their teams. That's part of their DNA and part of what makes them successful. To use a line from Jerry Maguire, 'it's not show friends, it's showbusiness'."
Highlights of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be on Channel 4 at 5.30pm on Sunday.
