Max Verstappen defends teammate Sergio Perez: “He’s not an idiot”

Photo: Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

12. 12. 2024 18:47 CET
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Max Verstappen defends teammate Sergio Perez: “He’s not an idiot”

Tereza Hořínková

News.gp journalist and a girl with big dreams

Formula 1 maxverstappen sergioperez f1controversies

Max Verstappen has backed his teammate Sergio Perez, saying he is “not an idiot,” as the Mexican’s future with Red Bull still remains uncertain after a tough 2024 season.

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The decision over Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull is at this point most likely decided, as the team management met earlier this week to discuss the driver line-up for 2025, with an announcement expected to be made in the coming days.

Perez joined Red Bull in 2021 and has had some great moments with the team. He helped Verstappen win his first world title that year and was key to Red Bull securing their first one-two finish in the Drivers’ Championship in 2022.

However, his performance in 2024 has been a definition of a disaster. After starting the season with four podiums in the first five races, he hasn’t finished in the top three since.

Overall he finished 275 points behind teammate Max Verstappen, who dominated the Drivers’ Championship. His struggles also played a part in Red Bull dropping to third in the Constructors’ Championship.

It is now basically an open secret that Perez will lose his seat, with Red Bull junior driver Liam Lawson being the top choice to replace him next season.

Despite everything, Perez has the support of his teammate. Verstappen called Perez “a great guy”, while also mentioning that they’ve always worked well together and appreciating what he has done for the team.

“I’ve always worked really well with Checo. He’s a great guy, honestly,” said Verstappen quoted by RacingNews365.

“It’s very rare that you have a team-mate like him, who has always been very good and just a nice guy.”

He added: “I work with him every weekend, week in, week out. I find people have been very harsh on him.

“Of course, some weekends maybe could have been better, actually. But sometimes people have been very harsh on him because he’s not an idiot. 

“He’s always been regarded as a great driver. It’s been tough, but it’s been tough for everyone in the team, because sometimes it [the RB20] was very difficult to drive.”

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