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Max Verstappen,F1 2024 Champion has expressed his support for his embattled teammate Sergio Perez, whose future at Red Bull remains uncertain. As the F1 season wraps up, Verstappen has spoken out in defense of Perez, who has faced intense scrutiny over his performance in the latter half of the 2024 season.
Perez started the season on a strong note, but his form noticeably dropped during the latter stages of the campaign. Despite securing a new contract, his performance continued to falter, and the security of that contract couldn’t halt the decline. This has led to a tense situation, with Perez now clinging to that contract as a lifeline, with his future set to be decided in the coming days.
Perez firm on not leaving
Although Perez survived an initial round of tough discussions in the summer, the situation is more precarious this time. Perez has maintained a defiant stance, insisting he won’t give up his seat, but the likelihood of Red Bull making a change is growing. Should the team decide to part ways with Perez, Red Bull is expected to replace him with Liam Lawson, who is seen as the preferred candidate over Yuki Tsunoda, despite Tsunoda out-performing Lawson in the six races since Lawson replaced Daniel Ricciardo.
Verstappen's Perspective on the Situation
Verstappen, who has consistently been the dominant figure at Red Bull, remains unsure about the future of his teammate. Following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Verstappen was asked whether he expected a change in teammates for the upcoming season, to which he replied, “I don’t know. This is up to the team.”
When questioned about whether he had a preference for his teammate, Verstappen expressed a strong bond with Perez. “I always worked really well with Checo [Sergio Perez],” he said. “He’s a great guy. Honestly, [it’s] very rare that you have a teammate like him. He has always been very good and just a nice guy, to be honest.”
Verstappen’s remarks highlight the positive relationship between the two drivers, despite the pressure surrounding Perez’s position. As Red Bull prepares for the upcoming season, the future of Perez hangs in the balance, with Verstappen showing empathy for his teammate’s challenging situation.
