Sergio Perez has met opposition from the father of his former Red Bull team-mate.
Jos Verstappen has brushed off Sergio Perez’s comments at the Mexican Grand Prix. The former Red Bull driver expressed his belief that the team’s cars are built around Max Verstappen, and that even the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc would be unable to extract performance in the seat alongside the reigning world champion.
Perez spent four seasons with Red Bull, from 2021 to 2024. Those years started well as the Mexican racer played a perfect supporting role for Verstappen’s maiden World Championship crown.
However, as his time in Milton Keynes progressed, results worsened and Perez’s confidence reached rock bottom. The partnership ended last December when Red Bull reached an agreement to terminate the 35-year-old’s contract ahead of time, calling up Liam Lawson in his place.
Lawson lasted a mere two Grand Prix weekends, and his replacement, Yuki Tsunoda, has also endured a miserable season. Speaking at his home race two weeks ago, Perez suggested that being Verstappen’s team-mate is a hopeless task.
“I don’t like criticising the drivers that are there, because I was in that position,” he told Sky Sports F1. “I know what exactly they’re going through. The minute I signed my exit with Red Bull, when we came to an agreement, I [thought] ‘That poor guy who comes here’.”
Perez went on to add: “It’s a very difficult place. Obviously, being next to Max is very difficult, but being next to Max in Red Bull… it’s something people don’t understand. There are so many things that I could tell you.
“But it’s simply just a very difficult job for a driver. There is no driver that can survive there. It doesn’t matter if you bring Hamilton or Leclerc – whoever you bring, there is going to struggle massively.”
These comments were not well received by Verstappen Snr, who laughed off the Mexican driver’s suggestion that the team is anchored around his son. “I would say the same in Pérez’s case,” he told De Telegraaf in Brazil. “But I, and everyone close to the action, know that’s not the case.
“Sometimes even the brightest minds don’t understand why a car reacts differently, but Max has the ability to adapt to the car in all circumstances. Of course, he gives feedback based on how the car feels, but that’s normal. Everyone always says it’s all about him. Sorry, but that’s really not the case.”
