Red Bull’s Sergio Perez says there is more respect between himself and team-mate Max Verstappen than people might assume.
There have been whispers around the relationship between the pair since the Brazilian Grand Prix last year when Verstappen refused to give up his position to the Mexican, who was fighting for second in the championship.
Those rumours intensified after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix; Verstappen went for the fastest lap towards the end of the race after Perez had been told to back off on his way to victory.
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Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix at the start of the month, Perez said he has a healthy relationship with the two-time champion, and he expects it to remain that way.
“I’m here to do the best possible thing for myself as well,” he said. “To be honest we have a lot more respect for each other than people might think. Inside the team there is a very high level of respect with each other.
“All the engineers from their side and my side. I think we are both mature enough to know what’s right and what’s wrong and as long as that keeps being the case, I don’t expect anything to change.”
The 32-year-old, who finished fifth in Melbourne last time out from a pit lane start while Verstappen took victory, knows he will need to be on good form if he is to come out on top this year.
“There’s no doubt there’s no driver on such a form as there is Max,” added Perez. “So together with the team and the car as ell he is the hardest driver to beat. So, it will require the maximum out of me and to bring my A-game every weekend.”
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