Max Verstappen’s leadership qualities have drawn intense praise and scrutiny from Sergio Perez following their turbulent years as Red Bull teammates, most notably after their relationship soured in 2024. As Perez prepares for his Formula One comeback with Cadillac in 2026, his candid remarks shed new light on Verstappen’s strengths and surprising vulnerabilities.
Insights from Perez on Verstappen’s Strengths and Pressures
Over four seasons together at Red Bull, Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen forged a partnership defined by competitiveness and a unique mutual respect, even as friction developed in later years. Perez, reflecting publicly before his return to the grid, has been outspoken about the relentless mentality Verstappen brings to the team environment. He is recognized among the grid’s mentally toughest competitors, his singular focus and confidence shaping not just his own performance but demanding more from his crew than perhaps any other driver.
“Max is a mentally super-strong driver. He has great confidence in himself. Incredible talent. Focused on the sport, on racing, on being the best driver, and he’s a huge force for the team. He pushes very hard.”
— Sergio Perez, Cracks Podcast via RN365
This approach, according to Perez, is at the heart of Verstappen’s reputation as one of Formula One’s leading drivers. Yet, with this intensity comes a flip side that shapes the atmosphere both on and off track: when challenges or setbacks strike, Verstappen’s drive can turn into frustration, revealing another layer of his character.
“He’s a great leader in the team, and I think the bad is also his character. When things turn against him, he struggles a lot to deal with it. Well, like what happened in Barcelona — he blocks, he has that side that, well, I think if he didn’t have it, he wouldn’t be Max either.”
— Sergio Perez
How Verstappen Changes Behind the Wheel
Perez also addressed how Verstappen’s personality transforms once he steps into the cockpit. He recounted the 2023 Interlagos incident in which Verstappen refused to let Perez pass—a scenario that stirred significant debate within the Red Bull garage and among F1 fans. According to Perez, this wasn’t personal hostility, but rather indicative of Verstappen’s uncompromising will to win whenever he races, a trait he believes marks true world champions.
“When people — fans — complained that he hadn’t let me pass, that he didn’t reward what I had done for him. I’d say: ‘Come on, you have to have that attitude of wanting to win them all to be world champion.’ No, something happens with Max. Max is an excellent person, but something happens to him. When he’s in the car, he transforms — he’s a different person.”
— Sergio Perez
The friction in Brazil was a flashpoint that surprised not only Perez but also much of the Red Bull team. According to the Mexican driver, even after internal talks intended to resolve any residual issues, Verstappen’s memory of past incidents influenced critical in-race decisions, keeping tensions alive that the entire garage thought had faded.
“And I think he had something in him that he never let out, because we talked about it — all the problems that year we talked, discussed, and thought it was behind us — the whole team thought. So, we were all surprised he brought it up at that moment.”
— Sergio Perez
The Challenges and Complexity of Leadership
Perez’s reflections reveal the deep complexities underlying Max Verstappen’s leadership qualities. While his capacity to drive himself and the team to the edge is unrivaled, the very intensity that makes him a dominant force can also create discord when results don’t meet expectations. As the Dutchman grapples with setbacks, this edge becomes both his greatest strength and his most noticeable vulnerability, making him a complicated but highly effective leader.
The dynamic between Perez and Verstappen hints at mutual understanding beneath the surface friction, and their time as teammates at Red Bull will be remembered for both their collaborative successes and visible tensions. With both drivers likely to compete in 2026 under new regulations and for different teams, their rivalry will soon enter a new chapter, watched keenly by F1 insiders and fans alike.
