Just as the 'Multi-21' affair began to simmer, the next teammate feud broke out in formula one. This time, the animosity was taking place a bit further down the field, as McLaren pushes to improve its 2013 car, and Sergio Perez also feels the pressure to up his game.
Team boss Martin Whitmarsh had complained recently that the British team's new Mexican recruit was being "too polite" this year, and urged him to use his "elbows". The 23-year-old obliged on Sunday in Bahrain, but the subject of his aggression was Jenson Button, in the sister MP4-28. "Emotions were running high," said Button afterwards, excusing his radio anger.
Indeed, the 2009 world champion pleaded with his team to "Calm him (Perez) down!), adding after yet another exchange of bodywork: "Come on guys!" Button told the BBC: "I would say exactly the same again. The racing was great out there. The only person that wasn't was Checo (Perez). He was too aggressive, I would say. It was a bit of a surprise, and I'm probably not the only one that feels like that."
Button was probably referring to the duo's boss, Whitmarsh, who agreed on British Sky television that he had already spoken to Perez and told him his behaviour was "over the limit" versus Button. "That's not what we expect," he added.
Even Perez agreed that his and Button's aggression was "too much" on Sunday. "I guess I was a little aggressive on track today; banging wheels with Jenson was perhaps a little too risky, a little too hard," he admitted, according to a media statement.
At the front of the field, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel raced to a 10-point championship lead by easily winning. Race favourite Fernando Alonso's challenge faded with a recurring DRS rear wing problem, while Kimi Raikkonen could finish only second following his poor qualifying.
Spaniard Alonso, despite winning in China a week ago, is now 30 points behind Vettel after just four races. "We're in a good position in the championship," the reigning triple world champion admitted on Sunday. "It was a very straightforward race." (GMM)
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Next teammate feud erupts in Bahrain at McLaren
- Published on 22 Apr 2013 08:49
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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M. Verstappen
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Jan 28
A. Antonelli
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Jan 29
G. Russell
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Jan 30
L. Hamilton
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 11
L. Norris
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 18
G. Russell
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Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
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C. Leclerc
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Spain
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Bahrain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
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Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
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10 - Apr 12
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17 - Apr 19
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1 - May 3
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Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
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Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
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Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
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Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
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Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
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Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 631
- Podiums 9
- Grand Prix 204
- Country ES
- Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (45)
- Place of b. Oviedo, ES
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.71 m
- 188,072 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
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Team profile
- Team name McLaren
- Base Woking, United Kingdom
- Jenson Button 1
- Lewis Hamilton 1
- Fernando Alonso 1
- Niki Lauda 1
- Stoffel Vandoorne 2
- Lewis Hamilton 2
- Lewis Hamilton 2
- Gerhard Berger 2
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Jenson Button 3
- Lewis Hamilton 3
- Kimi Räikkönen 3
- Mika Häkkinen 3
- Lando Norris 4
- Lewis Hamilton 4
- Jenson Button 4
- Kimi Räikkönen 4
- Jenson Button 5
- Sergio Perez 6
- Kimi Räikkönen 6
- Kimi Räikkönen 6
- Niki Lauda 8
- Alain Prost 8
- Kimi Räikkönen 9
- Fernando Alonso 14
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Jenson Button 22
- Lewis Hamilton 22
- Gerhard Berger 28
- Stoffel Vandoorne 47
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- Oscar Piastri 81
- 306,961 comments on McLaren
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