Red Bull 'sacrificed' Checo Perez at the Canadian GP in order not to jeopardize Verstappen's victory

Red Bull 'sacrificed' Checo Perez at the Canadian GP in order not to jeopardize Verstappen's victory
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Checo Perez was penalized after the Canadian Grand Prix with three places on the grid for the upcoming GP in Spain and a €25,000 fine for unsafe driving following a crash. However, new reports suggest that this decision was taken under the instructions of his team, Red Bull, to avoid a Safety Car that could jeopardize Max Verstappen's victory.
The incident occurred on lap 53 of the Canadian GP when Perez crashed into the barriers at turn six, severely damaging his rear wing. Despite the damage, Perez drove his car back to the pits, which resulted in the loss of several pieces of carbon fiber on the track, endangering the other drivers.
The FIA opened an investigation and penalized Perez with three grid positions for the upcoming GP in Spain for driving in unsafe conditions. However, according to RacingNews365, this decision was not taken on Perez's own initiative, but was an order from Red Bull. The team wanted to avoid a Safety Car that could have allowed Lando Norris and other drivers behind Verstappen to fight for victory in the final stages of the race.
At the time, Verstappen was leading the race with a 5.5-second advantage over Norris. A Safety Car would have bunched up the drivers and increased the chances of Verstappen losing his lead position. The FIA statement mentioned that the team had advised Perez to pit the car to avoid a Safety Car situation, confirming Red Bull's strategy to ensure Verstappen's victory.
This decision has generated controversy, as it implies that Perez was 'sacrificed' to protect Verstappen's lead, affecting his own championship position and performance.