In a recently published episode of Oso Trava’s CRACKS Podcast, Sergio Pérez reflected upon his tenure at Red Bull and commented on former teammate Max Verstappen’s talent while calling the 4-time F1 World Champion’s character an issue.
Pérez partnered with Max Verstappen at Red Bull from the beginning of the 2021 F1 season until the end of the 2024 season. During their shared time at Red Bull, Verstappen secured four consecutive titles.
“Yes, very much so,” Pérez responds to being asked whether he could take any learnings from his time as Verstappen’s teammate.
Pérez praises Verstappen’s talent but claims his character presents an issue
The Mexican went on to praise the Dutchman as an “impressive talent” and “great leader,” but reckons that the Red Bull driver’s character is a “significant issue”.
“Max is a mentally incredibly strong driver. He has immense confidence in himself, he is incredibly talented, he is focused on the sport, on racing, on being the best driver, and he is a very strong force for the team.
“He [Verstappen] is a great leader for the team, and I believe his character is also a significant issue. When circumstances turn against him, he finds it extremely difficult to deal with it.
Pérez cites the 2025 F1 Spanish GP as an example of Verstappen’s character flaw
“Like what we all saw unfold in Barcelona,” Pérez said, alluding to the 2025 F1 Spanish GP.
After a late Safety Car, Verstappen, who had been P3, lost position to Charles Leclerc at the restart. George Russell, who was following the duo closely, seized the opportunity and launched his own overtake attempt on the Red Bull driver into Turn 1.
During the battle for position, Verstappen left the track and stayed ahead of the Mercedes driver. Red Bull advised their Dutch driver to cede position to avoid a potential penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Verstappen adhered but deliberately bumped into Russell’s Mercedes, resulting in a 10-second penalty that dropped him to P10 at the finish line.
While Pérez believes Verstappen’s character is an issue, he also concedes that without that side of him, Verstappen wouldn’t be Verstappen.
“It freezes up, it has that particular side to it that I think if he didn’t have it, he wouldn’t be Max [Verstappen] either.”
Pérez on the 2022 F1 Brazilian GP and Verstappen’s refusal to follow team orders
The Mexican driver, who will make his comeback with Cadillac in the upcoming 2026 F1 season, recalled the 2022 Brazilian GP, where Verstappen refused to concede position to Pérez.
Towards the end of the 2022 season, Pérez was battling for second place in the F1 Drivers’ Championship with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Verstappen, who had already secured the Drivers’ title, refused to swap positions with his then-teammate, which would have aided the Mexican in his fight for second place in the Championship. Pérez ultimately finished the 2022 F1 season P3 in the Drivers’ standings with only three points separating him from Leclerc in P2.
Pérez recalls his and Red Bull’s surprise over Verstappen’s refusal, as they believed all issues had been thoroughly discussed and resolved.
“There is something going on with Max [Verstappen]. Max is a truly excellent person, but something really comes over him when he is behind the wheel. He completely transforms. He is a different person.
“And I believe that he had something inside him that he never let out. Because we discussed it, all the problems that year, we talked them over, we discussed them, and we thought they were in the past.
“The whole team believed that. So, we were all surprised when he brought it out then.”
