Max Verstappen addresses Sergio Perez comments as Mercedes bombshell dropped
Max Verstappen has addressed the latest remarks made by team-mate Sergio Perez, who recently revisited their controversial fallout during the 2022 Formula 1 season — just as a major shake-up looms over rivals Mercedes.
Perez, speaking on a Mexican podcast, described Verstappen as someone who “holds things in until he finally lets them out, usually on the track,” a clear reference to the infamous 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix. During that race, Verstappen defied team orders to let Perez through for sixth place — a position that could have significantly boosted Perez’s chances of securing second in the championship.
The incident sent shockwaves through the paddock at the time, especially given Red Bull’s usual image of unified dominance. With tensions now resurfacing thanks to Perez’s fresh comments, Verstappen didn’t shy away when asked to respond.
“I know who I am and how I operate,” Verstappen told reporters. “If I have something to say, I say it internally. I don’t play games in the media. What happened in 2022 was handled, discussed, and closed. I’m focused on winning championships, not revisiting old drama.”
Verstappen also suggested that Perez’s recollection may have lacked context:
“There are reasons for everything that happens, and those reasons were discussed with the team. I don’t feel the need to justify myself to the public every time. What matters is that Red Bull continues to perform at the highest level.”
The Dutchman’s comments come as Mercedes find themselves in the spotlight for a very different reason. Reports emerging from the German media suggest a bombshell is brewing within the Brackley-based outfit, with whispers of a major structural overhaul behind the scenes and renewed doubts over their driver lineup heading into the 2026 regulation changes.
Toto Wolff is believed to be accelerating long-term planning following Lewis Hamilton’s confirmed move to Ferrari in 2025, with questions now mounting over who will partner George Russell — and whether the team’s recent struggles have triggered more urgent changes in leadership or technical direction.
Back at Red Bull, the renewed attention on Verstappen and Perez’s relationship could not come at a more sensitive time. With Red Bull’s championship lead under pressure and Perez enduring a tough run of form, the stability of the team dynamic is once again in the spotlight.
Whether these comments signal deeper fractures or simply a revisiting of long-buried tensions remains to be seen — but in a season where every detail matters, no word goes unnoticed.
