P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has proclaimed that Sergio Perez is “not an idiot” as his Red Bull team-mate’s place hangs in the balance amid a tumultuous 2024 F1 season.
Red Bull bosses will meet this week to discuss Sergio Perez’s future with the team for the 2025 season, following a disappointing 2024 campaign that saw him finish without points in the last five races. Max Verstappen’s dominant performance contrasted with Perez’s struggles, with the Mexican driver falling 275 points behind in the Drivers’ Championship. There are strong indications that Red Bull may replace Perez with RB driver Liam Lawson for the upcoming season. Despite the challenges, Verstappen praised Perez’s character and driving skills, emphasizing the difficulties faced by the entire team due to the car’s performance issues. Verstappen also acknowledged the unfair criticism Perez received during the season, defending his teammate’s abilities as a talented driver. The final decision on Perez’s future with Red Bull is imminent as the team evaluates the best course of action moving forward.
