Max Verstappen is the current double-time champion, plus still leading the table of the new season after the first two Grands Prix. But he has got good competition in the form of his Mexican teammate, Sergio Perez. Checo has been playing a supporting role in the Red Bull team that was highly beneficial for Verstappen. The Dutchman won the driver’s and the constructor’s titles last year.
But the Mexicans played a handy role in the success of Red Bull. However, as it turns out, Max Verstappen does not appreciate Perez enough. The 2016 F1 champion, Nico Rosberg, called the Dutchman a selfish player, unlike Checo, a team player. This selfish attitude of the current champion has been noticed before as well.
Massa Thinks Sergio Perez Is Too Inconsistent To Be A Threat To Max
Former F1 driver Felipe Massa claims that Checo is not a worthy threat to Verstappen’s third title dream. According to Massa, the Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc is a more champion-looking driver. Massa, who lost the championship to Hamilton in 2008, says that Sergio Perez is too inconsistent. Massa believes Leclerc can give Max Verstappen a good fight for the tournament if Ferrari gives him a worthy car.
But Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari both are very inconsistent, according to Massa. The Brazilian racer rates George Russell very highly and is impressed with the promise he has shown over the last and the current season. He thinks not many drivers other than Nico Rosberg could beat Hamilton as his teammate.
But the topic recently got more attention after what happened at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Perez won the race fair and square, and his team informed him while the race that he had the fastest lap time. It seems like a team decision that Checo was supposed to win the race with the extra point after achieving the fastest lap. But as things finally panned out, the Dutchman recovered his position from the 15th rank to the P2. While doing so, he also snatched away the fastest lap time from his teammate, completely ignoring his team’s call.
Max Verstappen Has A Bigger Threat In The Form Of His Teammate
After the race, Verstappen mentioned that everybody was happy on the team except him. It is because he hates it when he comes second. Later on, Checo wrote something on social media about looking forward to being the champion of this season. But perhaps the team asked him to delete the post. So he did.
Now, this internal battle in the Red Bull team sparked debate on the prospect of Checo snatching the dream of Max Verstappen to win the third title in a row. Hence, as things stand currently, Max is leading the table with a point advantage over his teammate. It is a close battle going on between the two drivers of Red Bull. No other drivers of any team have yet come close to beating the Red Bull drivers in the last two races. Only time will tell who gives Verstappen the bigger challenge in the following races.