Max Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, has called out recent comments by Sergio Perez’s father, Antonio Perez Garibay, about his son’s time with Red Bull.
According to Formule1.nl, Garibay claimed that Perez had not been given a fair chance during his stint at the Milton Keynes outfit, arguing: “If Checo had had the same car as Verstappen, he would now be the world champion.”
Jos responded to the article on X, stating that Perez had the same specification as Verstappen during his tenure with the team.
“What an idiot that guy is,” he wrote. “He’s always been given the same material. But just needs to step on the gas.”
Perez raced alongside Verstappen from 2021 until he was replaced at the end of the 2024 season, during which Verstappen secured four consecutive Formula 1 drivers’ titles. Since missing out on a 2025 contract with Red Bull, the Mexican driver stepped away from F1 to consider his options for a return, ultimately signing with Cadillac for its debut season in the championship in 2026.
Cadillac announced its debut driver line-up of Perez and Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas at the end of August.
“I feel like there’s nothing to prove,” Perez explained. “Not just because of the current drivers or the next drivers that were in my seat, but even before that.
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“Now everyone forgets about it, but it’s been a very tricky place to be in, to constantly be adapting, to build confidence mentally. It’s a very unique challenge.
“I don’t think I have anything to prove when you see the amount of points they’ve scored. It’s like five points in the entire season [seven points, actually].
“To me, it’s more of a comeback to enjoy the sport. I want to enjoy the sport that I love, the sport that has given me so much. I couldn’t afford to leave the way I left the sport, and this is why I’m coming back with this new project. I hope it’s a very successful one. But amongst that, more than anything, I want to enjoy this comeback.”
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