Jos Verstappen calls Sergio Perez’s father an ‘idiot’ over comment about Max Verstappen

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Max Verstappen had superior machinery to Sergio Perez during their time at Red Bull, the Mexican driver’s father has said. And his comments haven’t gone down well with Jos Verstappen.

Perez spent four seasons at Red Bull before he was paid off back in December. Verstappen won the championship in each of those campaigns.

In an interview with Soy Motor, Antonio Perez suggested that Perez would have been a world champion if he had the ‘same car’ as Verstappen. Red Bull acknowledged that the Dutchman was their number one but felt both drivers had equal opportunity to succeed.

“Checo drove for Red Bull for four years,” Perez Sr explained. “How many years did Red Bull hold the championship? Four years. Checo Perez made Verstappen the champion.

“If Checo had had the same car, he would now be the world champion. Red Bull needed him.”

Sergio Perez’s father branded an ‘idiot’ for claiming Max Verstappen had superior car

Dutch outlet Formule1.nl reported on Perez Sr’s comments, and caught the attention of Jos Verstappen. The ex-F1 driver branded his counterpart an ‘idiot’.

He was adamant that Perez had the ‘same material’, but simply didn’t perform as well as his teammate. While he finished as the runner-up in 2022 and 2023, he slipped to eighth in last year’s standings.

Relations between the two drivers seem to be strong. Verstappen congratulated Perez when he secured a return to the F1 grid with Cadillac.

“What an idiot that guy is,” Verstappen’s father wrote on X. “He’s always been given the same material. But just needs to step on the gas.”

Sympathy for Perez has increased in his absence this year. Replacement Liam Lawson lasted just two races, and Yuki Tsunoda is 19th in the championship.

Max Verstappen’s accidental role in Sergio Perez joining Cadillac

There is a ‘feeling in the paddock’ that Red Bull didn’t give Perez enough help. But that doesn’t mean his car was inferior.

Indeed, Red Bull staff lost out on bonuses due to his limited contribution in the constructors’ championship. The team had little incentive to disadvantage Perez, particularly as they’d initially committed to fielding him in 2025.

Perez was waiting to see whether Verstappen left Red Bull before he committed to Cadillac. He knew that a seismic departure would send a shockwave through the driver market.

Having signed for the American newcomers, Perez will go up against Valtteri Bottas. It’s a battle of the number two drivers from F1’s famous 2021 season.