Source:REUTERS/ Maxim Shemetov
[Saba Sports News] After the Red Bull Racing team decided to fire Mexican driver Sergio Perez, Max Verstappen emphasized Perez’s contributions to the team in an interview with The New York Times in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen stated that Perez is a great team player and an excellent teammate. He went through a tough time this year, which was not entirely his fault due to design flaws in the car that made it harder to drive. Throughout his career with Red Bull, he has always brought immense energy to the team and never gave up, even in very challenging situations. When asked if he would miss Perez after his departure, Verstappen answered affirmatively, noting their good relationship. Some fans pointed out that there had been a public dispute between the two during the 2022 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix when Verstappen ignored team orders to let Perez pass. However, as Verstappen is the team’s number one driver, Perez did not heavily criticize him afterward, and their relationship did not deteriorate further.