Sergio Pérez has publicly defended his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen after fresh criticism from former F1 commentator Danica Patrick.
The Mexican driver delivered a powerful and emotional statement that quickly spread across social media and F1 fan pages.
Here is Pérez’s full quote:
“What she’s doing to him is an absolute scandal and an insult to F1. She’s criticizing a legendary driver who is achieving incredible results with a car that has almost nothing left to offer, a driver who risks everything at every corner and never gives up. To me, Max is currently one of the purest and most valuable talents Red Bull F1 has had in years. Anyone who truly understands the sport knows that: he has everything it takes to become one of the greatest legendary drivers in F1 history.”
Patrick has often questioned Verstappen’s aggressive driving style, especially when he is under pressure or when Red Bull does not have the fastest car. Clips from her past TV appearances and podcasts continue to circulate online, even though she is not part of Sky Sports F1’s 2026 lineup.
The comments come during a challenging 2026 season for Red Bull. New regulations have shaken up the grid. Verstappen has said the car feels “anti-racing” at times, but he continues to extract strong results from it.
Fans reacted instantly. Many praised Pérez for showing loyalty and called his defense a class act. Others said it was expected from a teammate. Some also pointed out that Patrick previously suggested Red Bull should consider replacing Pérez in earlier seasons.
Patrick has not responded so far. But Pérez has made his stance clear. He is standing firmly behind his teammate as the F1 season heats up.
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