Red Bull’s harmonious driver relationship is about to end with Emerson Fittipaldi backing Sergio Perez to take the fight to his team-mate, thus creating “friction”.

Although Red Bull have always insisted that Perez is allowed to race Max Verstappen, and can fight his team-mate for the World title, there have been instances this season that suggest otherwise.

The team has twice used team orders to favour Verstappen, Red Bull defending it as strategy at both the Spanish and Azerbaijan races.

The team-mates left Baku separated by 21 points, a gap that has since grown 57 in Verstappen’s favour.

But while the Dutchman may have a comfortable lead over his team-mate, the driver describing Perez as his “best” team-mate ever in Formula 1, Fittipaldi believes tension is on the horizon.