'Made Up': Verstappen & Perez Debunk Claims About Unfriendly Relationship
F1
Red Bull drivers Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen denied the rivalry between each other in an interview ahead of the 2023 Mexico City Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are one of the drivers pair on the grid with the biggest point difference amongst each other. The Dutchman is first in the Championship with 466 points.
Perez is second in the Championship so far with 240 points. The roles in the Red Bull team seem currently well defined, with Verstappen being the number one driver and Checo the number two.
However, some overenthusiastic Mexican fans do not want to accept this and see the three-time World Champion as a rival of their favorite Mexican driver.
fThese fans have been blamed for booing Verstappen on the podium after the United States Grand Prix. Asked if he feared unsavory scenes this weekend, Perez said:
"Not at all, and I think it's important that we give this message [of respect] because the media likes to create these sort of rivalries outside the track."
Perez thinks it is just media that creates rivalries outside the track that don't really exist. The 33-year-old acknowledged the role model status of the Formula One drivers.
"We are a great sport and we are a great example of a lot of young generations and we should just be focused on the sports side."
While Perez was blamed in the past for intentionally crashing his teammate Esteban Ocon, he says nothing that happens on the track is personal.
"Whatever happens on track should always stay there and that's the best message we as a country want to give to the rest of the world There is nothing else going on, the most important (thing) is everything stays on track."
The Verstappen-Perez duo has not met on the track for a long time, as the Mexican driver struggled with performances in the last couple of races.
On the other hand, everything looked different at the beginning of the season after the race in Azerbaijan. Back then, Perez was ready to challenge Verstappen for the title. The Flying Dutchman was asked about the rivalry between the pair and said it was "made up."
"That's made up. Checo and I, we get on really well. For us, I don't think there is any rivalry. Of course, as a driver on track you always try to be first or faster, but we have a lot of respect for each other and we appreciate each other's performances."
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