Max Verstappen and his father, Jos, usually see eye to eye. However, when it comes to choosing Max’s future teammate at Red Bull, their opinions diverge sharply.
Max Verstappen burst onto the Formula One scene at just 17, racing alongside Carlos Sainz in 2015. Since then, he’s teamed up with Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Sergio Perez. But now, his future partner is up for debate again.
With Red Bull’s lead over McLaren shrinking from 125 to just 51 points, Perez’s contributions are under scrutiny. While Max has scored 129 points in the last seven races, Perez has only added 21. This gap is closing fast as they approach the Belgium Grand Prix.
Though Liam Lawson waits for his Red Bull shot, it’s unlikely he will be chosen to race alongside Max. Realistically, it comes down to Daniel Ricciardo or Yuki Tsunoda. Yet, Max and Jos don’t see eye to eye on who it should be.
Max prefers retaining Perez, calling him his “best team mate.” He reflects on his early days with Ricciardo but emphasizes that his dynamic with Perez is better now. Jos, on the other hand, believes Ricciardo was a significant influence on Max and supports Ricciardo’s promotion.
There’s also a financial angle to consider. Sacking Perez could come with a hefty price tag for Red Bull. However, Yuki Tsunoda seems to be out of the running, especially after taking penalties that will see him start at the back of the grid in Belgium. Max will also face a grid drop but remains dominant on the track.
Perez, despite his struggles, remains confident. He insists his future is secure and points out his contract and team trust. Meanwhile, Dr. Marko has hinted at a performance review over the summer break.
Max Verstappen showed his prowess in practice at Spa Francorchamps, outshining the competition. Yet, Red Bull might need to rethink their strategy if Max has to navigate through the field during the race.
In other F1 news, the F1 commission met to discuss various topics but made little progress. They debated changes to the points system and how to involve young drivers more in Formula One. Expletives on team radios also came under review after a heated exchange between Max and his engineer.
As the summer break approaches, the spotlight remains on who will partner Max for the remainder of the season. Will it be Perez, Ricciardo, or someone else? Only time will tell.
The Belgian Grand Prix weekend promises high stakes and potential shake-ups. As Max and Red Bull navigate their team dynamics, the F1 world watches closely for the next big decision.
