Max Verstappen has given his former Crimson Bull team-mate, Sergio Perez, a helmet over the festive season after promising the driving force he would.
Perez, who will probably be becoming a member of Cadillac in 2026 alongside former Mercedes reserve driver Valtteri Bottas, shared a photograph of himself standing alongside the Dutchman on his Instagram account. He could be seen proudly holding the helmet out in the direction of the digicam with the visor studying, “Thanks for being an ideal team-mate and pal.”
Whereas neither driver commented on the present, this was a long-awaited handover. “2025 sabático te fuiste muy rápido,” Perez captioned alongside a gallery of pictures, translated loosely as: “2025 sabbatical, you left too shortly.”
The pair spent a number of seasons collectively at Crimson Bull as they fashioned one of many grid’s most scrutinised driver line-ups. Whereas Verstappen appeared to excel in his Milton Keynes equipment, following a profitable 2023, Perez faltered in 2024, leading to him being changed by Liam Lawson for the 2025 season. Like Perez, Lawson and finally Yuki Tsunoda additionally struggled beside the four-time world champion.
“I nonetheless want to offer him a helmet of mine – I promised him that,” Verstappen advised the media, together with Motorsport.com earlier final 12 months. “As a result of he gave me certainly one of his with a really good message on it.
Race winner Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes GP, Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Dan Istitene / Getty Photographs
“I promised him, hopefully round Mexico that I may give him mine.
“So, for me, no matter is written within the media, I understand how Checo is and now we have an ideal relationship.”
Perez’s abilities behind the wheel aren’t to be misplaced, nevertheless. The Mexican driver will be part of Cadillac for the American staff’s first season in Formulation 1 because the championship sees a big overhaul of its rules.
“I wished to come back again to complete my profession correctly however on the similar time I believed you recognize I imply does it actually matter you recognize if I do not get the fitting challenge the fitting motivation to come back again I used to be not even going to think about it for a second,” Perez advised Sky Sports activities in October final 12 months.
“I am very excited as a result of I imagine that I nonetheless have so much to offer to the game,” he continued. “I am very very fortunate with the profession I’ve had however I wish to end it on a excessive. I imagine that the final 12 months has been troublesome in my profession and I understand how good I could be with the fitting surroundings round me and I really feel like folks will probably be stunned on how aggressive, how good I will probably be on my comeback and I’ve that motivation already with me.
“So I really feel like I’ve this ultimate level to show in my profession and make it possible for I go away every time I wish to.”
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