'Perez, like Max, also made attempt to improve fastest lap time'

After the race, it was immediately the talk of the media and analysts. Verstappen allegedly did not keep to the agreements, and a new 'riot' seemed in the making. What Perez did not tell them, however, is that he himself also tried to set the fastest lap time - which he still held at the start of the last lap.

Perez gave up

Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner told the Telegraaf. "Max asked what the fastest lap time was, so it was clear he was going to try. And Checo knew that too, because he also tried on the last lap, but gave up after a few corners, because he was already well above his fastest time," Horner said.

Both Perez and Verstappen feared in the closing stages of the Grand Prix that technical woes could cause a retirement. Therefore, both slowed down their pace, even though it meant they were still well ahead of the competition. An attempt to drive the fastest lap time at the cutting edge could endanger (one of) the Red Bull(s) from crossing the finish line.

For a while, Horner too was worried that the desired one-two would slip through his fingers at the last minute. "However, our data showed that it looked okay. Then we told our drivers they could push again. They both had that info."