Max Verstappen stands by Sergio Perez during challenging times, highlighting bad luck as a factor in Perez’s recent performances.
- Perez started the F1 2024 season strong, but his performance has since waned, leading to rumors about his future with Red Bull.
- Verstappen praises Perez for his continuous feedback and hard work, dismissing the notion that Perez has given up.
- Verstappen attributes some of Perez’s difficulties to a ‘tricky’ car and his own struggles with the RB20.
- Conversations between Verstappen and Perez focus on improving the car, not on Perez’s future with the team.
Max Verstappen has shown unwavering support for his teammate Sergio Perez, who has recently faced a series of unfortunate performances. Verstappen, acknowledging the element of bad luck, pointed to how Perez’s season has turned after an initially strong start. Rumors have circulated about Perez’s potential replacement, but Verstappen remains on his side, blaming factors outside Perez’s control, such as a ‘tricky’ car.
Despite the public and media pressure, Max Verstappen has expressed generosity towards Perez. Verstappen clearly stated, ‘At the end of the day we are teammates, and we always try to give our feedback to the car, and that’s also what Checo has been doing.’ Verstappen emphasized that Perez has not been shirking his duties or stopped providing valuable input despite facing tough times.
According to Verstappen, the challenges are not entirely Perez’s fault. The Dutch driver is empathetic, sharing that he, too, has battled with the balance and predictability of their racing car. The car’s tricky behavior has affected both drivers’ performances, making consistency a formidable challenge. Verstappen remarked that he knows Perez is pushing himself to the limit to overcome these hurdles.
In pre-race media discussions before the Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen defended Perez’s work ethic, noting that Perez wants to improve and does not take his situation for granted. Verstappen mentioned that improved car conditions could align better with Perez’s driving style and help him perform better.
Verstappen also mentioned that conversations with Perez are focused on what they can control, which is optimizing car performance. Verstappen said, ‘We just talk about what we can control or influence, and that’s the car.’ This shows a commitment to teamwork and a shared goal of achieving a faster, more balanced vehicle.
Max Verstappen’s defense of Sergio Perez underscores the challenges of Formula 1 racing, with an emphasis on teamwork and resilience amidst adversity.
