#Checo is the scapegoat

[idk-why-am-i-her3]

The real question within Red Bull (leaving aside what would await it in 2025) is…

Why do CH and HM want Checo out? I think we already know that HM is a [redacted] as hell, a person that you are literally going to dislike because he is ALWAYS going to make [redacted] comments, but… CH??? He really is quite unpredictable in his word, he will NEVER admit a mistake and well, Checo is the scapegoat in RBR, but even so you can see a LOT of difference from last year to this one, last year it was "he get good points, it doesn't matter if Qualifying is bad", this year they wanted to do the same as 23, but OBVIOUSLY it didn't work out, leaving aside the OBVIOUS fact that due to the power dispute and the legal area, really

The idea that RBR is trying to get rid of Checo is already stronger, because it is no small thing. The current situation is just curious, in the middle of the year both Max and Checo were angry with the car situation, but precisely something that started with Brazil's victory made Max calm down, as if "nothing had happened", of course, people in general do not realize that they will use Checo's data (sacrifice) to give it to Max (Qatar is a GREAT example, but it would have also happened in Silverstone), but at the same time In Las Vegas, the mistake they made (coughcof) was not something "light" but rather something that has dragged on. CH prefers to defend the work that Bird does than Checo.

It really made me wonder what the next move for RBR would be. Furthermore, let's not ignore that RBR ALWAYS likes to attract attention, so for them it is being good (using Checo to distract the public from the bad car they gave their drivers). PLUS the incompetence they're giving is already at a beastly level (I really think "they can't go any lower" and they surprise me!), the rear wing of Las Vegas GP is a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. I really want someone internal to RBR to reveal the WHOLE truth because seriously, it is a big [redacted] that has escalated the situation

[irememberhope]

Still thinking about the Las Vegas GP and having weird thoughts. I love Max and his 4th WDC win brings me enough serotonin to pull me through this next week, but I really don't like how Red Bull handles its team and the coincidences of the race made me philosophical.

It's just odd, this season. There has to be a curse upon the second Red Bull seat, and I don't blame Max for it, but his teammates can't seem to win. I almost think when Daniel left he cursed it, but it had consequences for him in spite.

Daniel, gone this season in the one of the worst handled ways seen in the sport. That's after coming off a season where he was injured, and before that multiple seasons where he was obviously disappointed. He was the teammate that challenged Max the most, and he probably had the best weekend outside of Max. Happy retired even if it hurt exiting.

Then Pierre, who had such a good week previously and was high on the P3 qualifying, retired from an engine failure. Such an Icarus moment that he couldn't have stopped.

Alex, retiring that Williams also from something he couldn't avoid. After a terrible week in Brazil, and all the hype for his rookie teammate. Franco is amazing and I hope to see him in F1 next year, but it has to be rough with the amount of talk there is for Franco going to a higher team or possibly replacing him in 2026 with Carlos as his teammate.

Finally, poor Checo. He's not a bad driver, but the last two seasons have been awful for him. Mostly because of Red Bull using him as a scapegoat and not revealing the car had issues. He would probably be suited better to another team, one with a car that matched his driving style so he could show how good of a driver he is, but instead there is constant talk that he should be replaced and blaming him for Red Bull's loss in WCC. The self confidence has to have plummeted.

Then you have Max, winning his 4th WDC. What could have beens. I wonder if they question if they could be a WDC. There is something so tragic with three out of four (ex)teammates having an awful weekend when Max is continuing to level a legacy of excellence.

[wishfuldivine]

Wait. What do you mean George Russell exposed Red Bull? 😭

They want Horner out? All of the engineers want to leave? And they're using Checo as a scapegoat?

I mean, we have been knowning it but for someone else within the grid, AND from a different team to say it? INSANE.

RBR is falling apart. It's kinda hilarious to see.

[justanotherdrfan]

My breakdown of I’m a fuckwit Horners take of things on F1 nation podcast:

So you admit he was a PR hire cover for Max’s lack of wanting

You also admit he was there to cover Sergio if he didn’t deliver (which he has now for over a year)

But Daniel broke his hand and Liam stepped in and all of a sudden you noticed a junior driver you’ve had in your pool for years

So it was the lack of consistence but you’ve got Sergio consistently shit

Helmut wanted him out but why though?

The asshole Jacques Villeneuve talking shit you think helped him deliver so you kept letting people talk shit till you broke him

And then they compare Danny to Sergio and why he hasn’t had the same treatment and you comment on them both lack but Sergio’s not

Checo not finding anything yet along form your just finding his sponsors threatening to back out even though you have clauses that he’s not meeting in his contract to justify it

Sergio’s can’t drive around a problem in the car because he is the problem

So why are we not blaming the VCARB and its lack of an idea what a strategy as the problem when you can clearly blame the Red Bull floor being the cause for Sergio ‘under performance’

Because you know who can drive the Red Bull the same why as Max? Daniel Ricciardo. Like remember when that thing use to blow up every other race? And someone still manage to come 3rd in the drivers standing yeah that same person.

I’ll give Horner he knows how to avoid the actual issue because he’s been avoiding Sergio downfall for 2 years now

So if Liam was going to take an engine penalty in COTA why not send Daniel off properly in one of his favourite tracks (because your fishy as shit)

Ambassadorial role and a toothpaste deal what joke do you think he is?

But you still have him in your back pocket because you know Liam and Sergio aren’t good enough

You talked about giving him a chance but you didn’t properly did you

You talk about him being his best when you built his confidence up but explain to me you didn’t then

And you talk about him making Max the driver he is today but you couldn’t give him a proper send off

I hope he’s in front of the camera in a documentary talking about you at full length and ruin you like you did him

He was Red Bulls perfect driver then why the shithouse treatment?

They didn’t talk about them dropping Daniel because let’s be real Red Bull are in no one going to answer that because they can’t there’s no justification other than him being the scapegoat for contracts and sponsors they clearly can’t and don’t know how to manage

Also Horners smart he doesn’t tell lies just spins the truth

[adimouze]

no wonder daniel looks so damn chill. it must be freeing to know he's free af from horner and his debt of flesh, and red bull is about to have to explain why checo gets to keep his seat when he inevitably flops next year. no ricciardo scapegoat to sacrifice as a distraction next year lol

[simplywrong]

I know that F1 journalism is on a very low level and all but can someone explain to me why the official F1 site is recycling the same interviews of Horner and Checo and making new articles out of them like it was some breaking news? It is a blatant click bait and it's really disgusting.

Can't they focus on something else? Like Lewis in Ferrari (and how he'll have almost the same team Seb had) or all the rookies in on the grid next year or how the biggest asshole in the sport just made himself a dictator of the FIA?

Is it really easier to keep hitting the scapegoat?

[silentreigns]

I wish Checo wasn't under an NDA with RedBull, I want to know the tea. More articles are coming out that his poor performances weren't his fault. And that he was pointing out the car's flaws and the direction the team was developing in and nobody listened to him. Like it was easier to make him a scapegoat than to take accountability. And it resulted in him unceremoniously getting fired. RedBull should liquidate

[littlemortychai]

Bit of a crack theory on Checo's announcement today:

Given from what I've seen it seems to be Perez himself deciding to part with red bull not a team decision like most people expected. The first post I saw was his Instagram and then Twitter, at this point I haven't seen anything official from Red Bull itself.

Tbh him leaving has been 2 years in the making, but it was good for red bull to have a scapegoat/story they could switch to whenever the narrative spun out of their control.

Christian horner sends nudes to a female employee? Ohh just drop some replacement rumors for Perez!

We went down the wrong development path for our car and it's finally catching up to us? What if we tease replacement again!

If you live through that for as long as he has it's no surprise he decided to leave. it's quite possible that red bull might have been slightly blindsided in the announcement? ie. He might have reached a decision very recently and didn't go on their schedule? I'm not sure but the silly season that was F1 in 2024 shows no signs of ending

[fake-f1-news]

Checo: Max "Hadn't Received" Same Downgrades As Me

Red Bull driver Sergio Perez believes that the reason he has been so much slower than his teammate and demi-God Max Verstappen since resigning for the team early in 2024 is because the downgrades he's received hadn't filtered through to Max's car.

"Everyone called me incompetent and useless, particularly when I finished 6 positions behind Max in Belgium, despite starting 9 positions ahead of him. After Monza, I think everyone could see that it was merely because the team had introduced a few downgrades to my car, which hadn't been applied to Max's car yet. It was only in Italy, when Max finished 6th on merit, that it was clear that Max's car had finally received at least SOME of the same downgrades, not upgrades, as me. I was ahead of the curve on this one!"

Perez after suddenly becoming a midfield driver early in the season.

When asked why he had only scored 2 points since the US GP, when his teammate had won 2 races in that time, the Tom Cruise lookalike responded:

"Were you not listening to what I just said? Red Bull haven't implemented the downgrades to Max's car yet! I know the season's over now, but surely it's plain for all to see! Just look at the start of the season. Why was I able to finish 2nd, admittedly behind Max, a few times, and then only able to finish in 87th place on a good day for the remainder of the season? Clearly Red Bull wanted to help Max's title chances by keeping the downgrades off his car, using my seemingly poor performances as a scapegoat for the ever worsening car I had to drive!"

[slutforpringles]

daniel really had no chance, it's so obvious now i feel almost stupid

glad he's out of that team, still depressed he's out of f1 though

i'm gonna enjoy checo disaster classes so much next year

I think it definitely seems like even if every single person in the Red Bull team wanted Daniel in that seat midseason/over summer break it was never fully on the cards. Sounds like the thai shareholders are backing Perez the same way they've backed Horner. I kind of wonder if the decision was even out of Horner's control in that way (and if that is the case I do kind of understand the way Helmut has been moving this year).

I will say the Yoovidhya family backing Perez is absolutely on brand for them and also makes me think those photos of Perez out to dinner with them during the season were potentially a lot more significant than I thought they were at the time.

I think had Daniel come into this season absolutely guns blazing (and while I do still wonder how much the chassis issues affected his start he definitely didn't do himself any favours with some of his early struggles) then I don't think Perez is re-signed when he was, which ultimately changes the outlook for Daniel a fair amount - although it does sound like even if that happened there was every chance Red Bull would still have ultimately re-signed Perez. I do also believe that everything going on with Horner and the power struggle definitely changed how this season played out for Daniel.

Given everything though I am also glad Daniel is out of there and I'm extremely relieved and glad he can't be their scapegoat, but I do really really miss him being part of F1 so incredibly much.

[lestappenforever]

A bit if a rant, but bear with me, I’ve been in this brain rot since seeing RBR’s threads and i just wanna get it out. (Yes i am the same person who hopes that Christian and RBR are so cold in DTS and this is the reason why i believe that there might actually be something going on, slowly brewing and simmering in low heat till it fucking explodes in *hopefully* Ferrari’s face) (if you couldn’t guess, I’m an RBR girl through and through)

Now lets start it from after Singapore, it was the very first time RBR posted Charles and Max, and let’s all be real for a moment, I personally don’t think that there was much to it, I mean, they’ve posted Lando, Fernando, Esteban, Pierre, etc. Its not that weird that they did that. That same weekend, Ferrari fucked up Charles and prioritized Carlos, despite the fact that both had a chance at a podium, but Ferrari (as Geogre said in that heartbreaking radio for any Charles fan) sacrificed Charles for Carlos. And then Fred saying that Charles agreed?! Let’s all just look back at something very slight, Charles is a petty king, he wants to win, he’s hungry, doesn’t want to be second, EVERYTHING that he’s done since karting proves that, but what Ferrari and Fred said that weekend didn’t make much sense. Yes, this weekend was not detrimental for the whole Charles to Red Bull agenda, but it might have been the start to it all.

Fast forward to the triple header, as Japan and Qatar didn’t have much, of course other than padel, but in terms if teams, controversies and fuck ups from Ferrari, there weren’t much.

Austin was the start to it all, the way RBR posted Lestappen VERY CLEARLY on their socials, shows that there’s something brewing, but not by much, its just, yeah 2 generational talents who have fought each other forever in their racing careers, doung it again, etc. But that wasn’t the only case. Red Bull have posted them both together, but so did Christian, and Horner ain’t one to be taken lightly. Everything this man does is fucking calculated, he’s chaotic, but in a way that I don’t think anyone can be, he knows how to play, and play he does. After the USGP with Ferrari’s most famous fuck ups of the floor infringement and putting Charles ONLY on a one stop, where the weather was EXTREMELY HOT on track, and all that with the lame excuse of “oh he’s better at tyre management” despite being on pole, shows something, Ferrari is NOT being a seriou team with Charles, because they then went ahead and were celebrating Carlos’ podium as if their other driver didn’t get disqualified.

On to Mexico, (aka the epitome of my delulus that RB are doing something in DTS in regards to Charles) we have the crazy pole that Charles pulled, as well as his data and onboards being shown along Max and Checo, there were no other drivers who were on that pit wall. We also have the part prior to the GP, where we all saw Christian and Charles arriving at the paddock at suspiciously close (you could say almost together if you didn’t know any better) then waiting for him, by the entrance of the paddock, where he knows Netflix are there and the fans are there, for a seemingly innocent hello (NOT), as well as Christian defending Charles, who had an accident with HIS DRIVER AT HIS HOME GP. You don’t see that, in a normal situation, Charles would be blamed for Checo’s DNF by Checo’s TP.

Onto Brazil, the final major fuck up by Ferrari, which cost a hungry Charles a battle with Max, and a chance at a win, simply because Ferrari decided againts changing the engine, which then fucks up the hydraulics, causing Charles a DNS. In addition to, again, Only his data is along side the RB boys. During this weekend, you could feel the shift in Charles, like he couldn’t take it anymore, he’s done being the scapegoat, the rag that Ferrari could do anything they want as he’s their Il Predesinato, he’s HUNGRY, he wants to win, and Ferrari simply for the last 5 years were unable to provide him with what he wants.

That’s how it was in Vegas and Abu Dhabi, Charles fought, he fought hard, and you might even feel like he’s hell-bent on getting these podiums, to show Ferrari how much they fuck him up during races, and what he’s capable of when they don’t.

All of that while both RBR and the official F1 accounts are pushing the Lestappen agneda, posts, Max’s statements that are kind of throwing shade at Ferrari, mentioning that he would mind anyone (while blatantly pointing at Charles) to be his teammate if checo were to leave by the end of the 2024 season, the RBR garage and team being friendly with Charles a bit too often. And then the most recent posts of putting Charles on the RBR Christmas tree, while Yuki, who is closely more related to RBR isn’t, and the most recent thread of “claiming” Charles,

RBR, Horner and even Marko are not stupid, they know how to stir a pot, how to cause chaos and drama, how to be cold, how to be that young team that could seem innocent, approachable, intriguing, in order to get what they want, how they want it and When they want it. And the fact that we know nothing of the new season of DTS, Ferrari just posting shit trying to distract from the fact that they haven’t announced Charles renewing, and they way the talk has died down about it, in addition to trying to distract from the RBR Lestappen saga on all socials that is happening rn, shows that there could be something, something thing, detrimental, vold as fuck and chaotic as fuck. Another thing that I have forgotten to mention is the whole Twitter saga that happened because of Will Buxton and Albert Fabrega around the time of the Triple header shows that there is Chaos that’s going to be unleashed, could be in DTS. And what’s Chaos with the Agents of Chaos?

(I’m extremely sorry for how fucking long this is, i just let my mind do the talking and didn’t realise how long i wrote until i was done 🤪)

I'm not even going to add anything to this, my lovely anon, because this ask deserves to shine on its own.

I love your beautiful mind, anon. Please come share your brainrots with me at any time. ❤️

[selfishpresley]

The first person I thought when I heard the news about Checo was you, I hope you are doing okay. Im really sad it ended like this for him because red bull was ruining his career this last season but on the other hand I am relived that he no longer will be tormented by the toxic fans and Im hopping will see him again in some other racing category

anon thank you so much for thinking of me. he really means a lot to me as a Mexican woman, he is my only representation to a sport that I’ve followed since I was a child.

I am having my scheduled crying but because it’s such a sudden change but I choose to believe that there are bigger and better things out there for him.

Daniel Mejia (trusted reporter for Fox Sports) stated that he was sure that Checo was going to race next season. Wether it be with RB or another team that wants him

And that’s what I choose to believe

I would not be surprised if this was something Checo first suggested despite the shareholders wishes, he was probably done being the scapegoat for a team that is rotting from the inside (the massive layoffs prove that). I can make a whole doctorate thesis over all of the issues that the team has against their POC drivers.

this parting is a symptom of a larger problem within the team….

he’s stated before that when he retires that’s it, so I’m more than certain that I’ll see him in f1 in the future. next year or the the ones after

[wishfuldivine]

The car is having problems (again) and people are blaming RB, but hey! Let's forget that there is one driver that has been saying that for more that a year!! And blame race after race to the driver that is still in the top ten of the grid with practice car... The car is difficult and Max is very good. Those are facts, but that doesn't mean he should be risking it all every race with that car.

Is curious that people love to blame RB when Max has problems but when is Checo, is obviously his entire fault. Make it make sense.

Hello, Anon. Thank you for ranting on my asks. I really do enjoy being someone who a person can come in to do so. Truly.

And honestly? At this point? I just don't care about what people say anymore. Regardless of proof being there that Checo had been right all along, they'll refuse to acknowledge it because they enjoy laying out their frustrations on him. When really, it should go to Horner. He's the one who decided to ignore Checo and continue on. This is the consequence of their ignorance.

If you ask me, I'm glad that RB is falling off drastically for that simple fact. They always refuse to man up for their mistakes, and Checo, being the easy target, is the scapegoat.

They are actually getting what they deserve. But the only sticky situation is that Max and Checo are getting dragged along with them. They are the ones who don't deserve it. They've tried doing their best.

Overall, RB needs to get their shit together, but that's far too much wishful thinking.

Thanks for coming in, Anon! Have a blessed day! ♡

[rickybaby]

Laila, I completely understand you saying you’re still trying to understand Singapore. I think there was so much that went down backstage that we probably will never get a straight answer to.

But, if it helps at all, I’ve tried to look at it more in the way of “what would it have mattered if they let daniel finish in Abu Dhabi rather than Singapore?” I’d argue that if they’d let him peeter out until the end of the season and given him some consolation donuts at the end of the race, it would have just been worse for daniel. They would have had another six races to spout their “we did everything we could for Daniel…but the performance just wasn’t there 😔”

By doing him so dirty like they did in Singapore, all they’ve done is expose themselves and how underhanded they are. Everything had come crashing down around them: Checo’s contract being exposed, them being stuck with him indefinitely, losing the title sponsors for their junior team and Lawson and Yuki barely scraping points and getting aggressive due to the pressure put on them.

None of that would have happen had they kept daniel to the end of the year, because they would have still been using him as a scapegoat. They would have dragged him through the mud over and over while Lawson sat in his garage like a shadow. Now, there’s no where for them to hide. Lawson obviously isn’t the shoe-in they thought he’d be since there’s rumors of Franco and now even Carlos taking the 2025 seat. Journalists are outright calling out his Checo is only there due to sponsorship (with actual names and numbers now!) and ironically, they’ve soldiered Daniel in people’s hearts.

If you look at any recent post of daniel, from basically any outlet, the tide has turned completely from “he needs to stop blocking junior drivers!” to “he deserves so much better, always our honey badger, bring daniel back etc”

Idk, I know it’s still a difficult pill to swallow - particularly for those that paid attention to Daniel’s races and saw that he made the absolute most out of the tools he had - but vindication will come. We might need to wait for it. But Red Bull are going to eat themselves alive quicker than we probably expect

You’re right in how the way he was forced out made his absence so heavy that it ensures his presence will always hang over the sport and it was truly so Daniel the way people came out to show their love and appreciation and it was something that no team could ever have given him. And I take a lot of comfort in all of this but sometimes, you remember the way he broke down in front of the cameras and you question how could anyone let this have happened?? How do we ever move past this? And I can’t just imagine an answer to that

[itsblasttothepast]

Checo was robbed in qualy! Why this keeps happening to him?

I know anon! He was clearly going for the P5, he was ready, but Bird screwed up again (nobody will change my mind about this). And then George crashed... it's F1, I guess we should be used to this happening, but still hurts.

What I hate about his is the fact everyone focus only on Checo to badmouth him.

Oscar was out on Q1 the first spint race, and nobody said anything about it (like they would have if it had been Checo); Lewis now was out also and he'll start at P19 tomorrow, and again, no criticism or harsh words. Lando was brought to the FIA for something Alonso did back in Australia (if my memory doesn't fail me) and got a time penalty, yet Lando was cleared.

It seems so unfair that all the negativity focuses only on Checo. He was P10 not by choice, George crashed and ended all the strategies. Max was going for the pole and Checo for P5, it didn't work, yet Checo is the one being criticized. It makes me want to scream at people to stop with the bias.

But Checo... my God, he finally is starting to speak about the shit RBR is doing. He said clearly that his car doesn't have the upgrades Max's car has, and they have to step back and fix it before tomorrow's race. He totally contradicted what Horner said, and I'm here to support this narrative where he's done being the scapegoat of the team.

A few of us fans think Checo is leaving RBR to another team, he's acting like he doesn't give any fucks anymore; or maybe he's pretty confident in his contract and the 2025 Ford clause (rumors only).

Still, Checo was doing good in qualy, but things didn't work out. I feel for George too, it wasn't a good day for RBR (in theory, Max still got P2) and Mercedes.

[hopelessrussian]

no one is being xenophobic towards ocon. i will bet a large amount of money that 99% of fans didn't even know he had north african roots. people are merely talking about his driving, and he has a long standing history with teammates. that's all.

some other drivers have this "long standing history with teammates" too. when you aren't a generational talent, you have 2 ways in f1: either be in a team with said generational talent and become a completely silent, perfect second driver or be in a team with another mid driver who you have to fight. esteban has always been put in the 2nd situation since he's ambitious and him being a max/lewis teammate would be a disaster. and i see nothing wrong with it. yes, he has an aggressive driving style, but so do max, fernando, carlos, checo, yuki, kevin and his current teammate pierre gasly, who, let me remind you, was almost disqualified last year (and sent zhou over the barriers in 2022 and didn't even say sorry, unlike george). so, I have no idea why people have chosen esteban to be the scapegoat besides him probably being not that "likeable" as some of his competitors.

as for xenophobia, it's really a thing in the racing world, unfortunately. and after having seen what words have been thrown at isack, I started thinking that it may be the same for ocon.