Christian Horner dismisses criticism from Max Verstappen's dad Jos over strategy calls ahead of Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has rubbished claims made by Max Verstappen’s dad that the team “exerted little influence” in helping his son as the world championship leader, and insists there will be no favouritism over Sergio Perez. Perez has competed closer with Verstappen this season after winning his first race of the campaign in Monaco on May 29, and Jos Verstappen took to Max’s official website to vent his frustration against Red Bull’s tactics. Ad/> He said: “Red Bull achieved a good result, but at the same time exerted little influence to help Max to the front.

That he finished third, he owes to Ferrari's mistake at that second stop of Charles Leclerc. The championship leader, Max, was not helped in that sense by the chosen strategy. It turned completely to Checo's favour.

That was disappointing to me, and I would have liked it to be different for the championship leader. Azerbaijani Grand PrixRed Bull pair confident of closing gap on Ferrari after 'tricky' practice on Friday in Baku5 HOURS AGO “Pérez actually won the race because of the earlier pit stop. The team can perhaps explain that as a gamble, but they had already seen, with for example Gasly, that the intermediates were the best option at that time.

“I would have liked them to go for Max, but of course I am not entirely objective. I think ten points from Max have been thrown away here. Especially with the two retirements we've had, we need every point.