Max Verstappen has defended his beleaguered Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez, after a season filled with struggles for the Mexican driver and amid rumors of the latter's impending departure from the grid.
Perez's 2024 season has been riddled with challenges, from failing to match Verstappen's blistering pace – whether in qualifying or on race day – to persistently battling issues with the car.
Despite signing a new contract earlier in the year, speculation about Perez's future has been rampant, with many suggesting that the 34-year-old's days with Red Bull are numbered, with Liam Lawson set to fill his seat in 2025.
However, Verstappen stands firm in his belief that his teammate has been treated “too harshly” by critics this year, although he could offer no insight into what the future may hold for Perez.
"I don't know, this is up to the team,” the Dutchman said, speaking last weekend in Abu Dhabi.
"I always worked really well with Checo, he is a great guy honestly. It is very rare that you have a team-mate like him who has always been very good and just a nice guy too."
The four-time world champion went on to sympathize with Perez's struggles, pointing out that the difficulties weren't limited to just one driver or one race weekend.
"I do have sympathy for the position he has found himself in. I work with him every weekend, week in, week out, and I find people have been very harsh on him," Verstappen added.
"Of course, there are some weekends that maybe could have been better naturally, but sometimes people have been very harsh on him, because he's not an idiot."
©RedBull
Verstappen's defense of Perez extends beyond just a personal bond; he also highlighted how difficult the season has been for everyone at Red Bull, with both drivers often grappling with car issues that affected performance.
"He's always been regarded as a great driver, and it's been tough, but it's been tough for everyone in the team because sometimes it was just very difficult to drive," he explained.
It's clear Verstappen has respect for Perez, both as a teammate and as a driver, despite the tough season they've had together.
The Dutchman's words come as a reminder that behind the headlines and the speculation, there's often more to the story than just results on the track.
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