Max Verstappen has responded to former Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez’s comments about their less-than-ideal incidents during the 2022 Formula 1 season.
Verstappen and Perez shared the Milton Keynes-based squad’s garage for four years between 2021 and 2024.
And while the Dutchman had more than the measure of his team-mate during this time, in 2022, the Mexican racing driver did manage to rub Verstappen the wrong way.
Most notably, in qualifying in Monaco, Perez crashed during the top-10 shootout. This essentially confirmed his third-placed grid slot, ahead of Verstappen in fourth.
Perez went on to win that race – something that reportedly irked Verstappen enough for him to hold a grudge against Perez late into the season.
The Sao Paulo Grand Prix was when Verstappen exacted his ‘revenge’. When asked by the team to let Perez pass as he was fighting for second in the Driver’s championship, the Dutchman promptly refused to yield the position.
Referring to this, Perez recently said on a podcast in Mexico that Verstappen “is like that, he holds things in until he finally lets them out, usually on the track.”
Responding to these comments, Verstappen, however, refuted that there was any lingering tension between the duo.
“No, but I also think how you word [the question] is not how he meant it,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“I have a great relationship with Checo, we were great team-mates and so I have a lot of respect for him, he has a lot of respect for me, and that is it from my side.”
Verstappen expresses Perez desire amid interest from Cadillac
The six-time Grand Prix winner was let go by Red Bull at the end of last year after a series of disappointing results contributed to the team losing the Constructors’ title.
But having been condemned to a spell on the sidelines, it appears as though Perez has found a way to climb back into the paddock.
Cadillac are said to be in serious negotiations with Perez for a race seat in 2026, as the sport’s latest addition looks to bolster its driver line-up with race-winning experience.
Verstappen acknowledged this and expressed his eagerness to race alongside the 35-year-old once again.
“I am looking forward to hopefully seeing him again in the paddock soon, and I still need to give him a helmet of mine,” he said.
“I promised him that because he gave me one of his with a very nice message on it, and I promised him that hopefully, around Mexico, I can give him one of mine.
“So for me, whatever is written in the media, I know how Checo is and we have a great relationship.”
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