A Competitive Teammate is Needed: Max Verstappen’s father supports replacing Sergio Perez

Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, has supported the idea of replacing Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson in the Red Bull team for the next season. The elder Verstappen believes that his son needs a more competitive teammate.

Quote: “I think Lawson is showing very good results,” said Jos Verstappen. “To me, it makes sense that he’s ready to move to the next level. Let him gain more experience and confidence until the end of this season, and then the team will make the final decision.”

“I wouldn’t mind if Lawson replaced Perez. It’s much better to have a competitive teammate next to Max, someone who will push him a bit. It’s always helpful, but let’s see what the team decides,” added Jos Verstappen.

Reminder. Max Verstappen won the Brazilian Grand Prix last weekend and is now even closer to his fourth Formula 1 title. At the same time, his teammate Sergio Perez has been showing very poor results and is currently only in 11th place in the overall standings.

Max Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, has publicly expressed his support for replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing, citing the need for a more competitive teammate for his son. While Jos’s comments have sparked significant debate, his perspective is rooted in Red Bull’s overarching goal of maintaining dominance in Formula 1.

Sergio Perez has been a solid performer for the team since joining in 2021, securing a number of podiums and contributing to Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship titles. However, his performances have been inconsistent, especially in comparison to Max Verstappen, who has established himself as the team’s clear leader. In recent seasons, Perez has struggled to consistently match Verstappen’s pace, particularly in qualifying and race conditions that demand high adaptability.

Jos Verstappen’s criticism seems to stem from the fact that Red Bull, with its highly competitive car, requires a second driver who can consistently challenge Verstappen, not just in isolated moments, but throughout the season. A teammate capable of pushing Verstappen would not only benefit Red Bull in terms of overall performance but also prevent Verstappen from becoming complacent. Jos’s comments echo a sentiment often voiced in F1 – that top-tier teams need two drivers who can consistently fight for victories.

Furthermore, Red Bull’s recent success has come with a clear emphasis on performance, and having a teammate who can help challenge Verstappen in races would offer Red Bull a tactical advantage, especially in scenarios where Verstappen might face issues, such as bad starts or tire degradation.

While Perez has undoubtedly contributed to Red Bull’s recent titles, Jos Verstappen’s comments highlight the pressure that top teams like Red Bull place on their drivers, with performance and the pursuit of perfection always at the forefront.