Verstappen confesses Red Bull’s great ‘betrayal’ of C…read more
Max Verstappen has stirred up major controversy by hinting at what many already suspected: Red Bull may have deliberately moved to undermine Sergio “Checo” Pérez during his strongest phase in the 2023 season. The Dutch world champion, speaking candidly, suggested that having two championship-caliber drivers inside the same team is never sustainable—an admission that many fans interpret as confirmation of a “betrayal” of his Mexican teammate.
The narrative resurfaced after Verstappen commented on the internal rivalry currently brewing at McLaren between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. He argued that a team with two top-level drivers fighting each other is destined for conflict. It was this comparison that inadvertently brought attention back to what happened between him and Pérez not long ago.
Checo’s explosive start in 2023
The 2023 season began like a dream for Sergio Pérez. After the first five races, he had two victories, two runner-up finishes, and a fifth place—arguably the best start of his Formula 1 career. That performance placed him neck-and-neck with Verstappen, who for the first time in years faced a serious challenge from inside his own garage. Many fans believed it would become a season-long duel, a real championship battle between Red Bull teammates much like the rivalry currently unfolding at McLaren.
But the tone within the team shifted drastically once Checo became a genuine threat. Instead of celebrating a strong internal battle, key figures at Red Bull—especially advisor Helmut Marko—began criticizing Pérez both publicly and privately. Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, questioned Checo’s consistency and ability, reinforcing the narrative that the team should revolve only around Max. While the comments were subtle at first, they grew more aggressive as Pérez remained within striking distance of the championship lead.
The sudden decline
The turning point arrived after the Miami Grand Prix—where Checo failed to convert pole position into victory. From that moment on, his form visibly dropped. Though he still collected podiums throughout the season, his results dipped just enough to leave Verstappen clear at the top. Many observers believe that Pérez’s confidence, and possibly his level of internal support, collapsed following the public criticisms.
Verstappen went on to dominate the rest of the year, comfortably winning the championship, while Checo transitioned from title rival to support driver—tasked with helping Max but not expected to win on his own. Notably, since those early victories, Checo has not returned to the top step of the podium despite having the same machinery.
Verstappen’s revealing comments
Speaking on the podcast Pelas Pistas, Verstappen acknowledged the risks of allowing two elite drivers to compete freely within a team. His words were remarkably telling:
> “When you have the two best drivers in a team, they will always get in each other’s way. Even if the team has the best car, it ends up creating conflict and splitting the team apart.”
For many, this statement reveals exactly why Pérez was not allowed to continue as a title contender. Verstappen’s analysis makes it clear that neither he nor those close to him were comfortable with Checo being a real threat for the championship.
He followed up with another revealing statement:
> “If I were a team boss, I would never take that risk. The situation becomes completely unsustainable when both drivers are fighting for the championship.”
Although he never mentioned Pérez by name, the implication is obvious—Red Bull chose to avoid a direct title fight by ensuring only one driver remained in contention.
One leader, one support driver
Verstappen also gave insight into what he believes is the ideal team structure in Formula 1. He suggested that a dominant driver needs a younger teammate who can eventually take over but should not interfere during that driver’s peak years. This philosophy explains why Red Bull favored Verstappen over Pérez: one driver leads, while the other follows.
The once-close rivalry between Max and Checo eventually disappeared—not because the Mexican lacked skill, but because the internal environment shifted against him. Whether intentional or not, the message was clear: Red Bull would not allow the same kind of rivalry that currently exists between Norris and Piastri at McLaren. That level of intra-team competition, in Verstappen’s view, is simply too dangerous.
The Dutch driver’s recent comments confirm what many fans and analysts long suspected—that Red Bull was never prepared to let Pérez truly challenge Verstappen for the world title. And by admitting so indirectly, Verstappen may have inadvertently confirmed one of the most controversial storylines in recent F1 history: that Checo’s dream season was cut short by pressure from the very team he was helping succeed.
