Sergio Perez was once ‘unpopular’ in the Max Verstappen camp after they suspected him of foul play

Sergio Perez contested his final race with Red Bull at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after he elected to part ways with the team a year earlier than was on his contract.

The Mexican started off the season strongly with four podiums and three one-two finishes to Max Verstappen, prompting Red Bull to exercise an option on his contract for an extension through to 2025.

However, the Mexican suffered two retirements and a spate of poor results in which he only managed to score 43 points in 16 races. Perez’s European season was characterised by the same errors as in 2023, leading to pressure for him to improve.

Red Bull waited until the end of the season to discuss what to do with Perez, with them ultimately deciding to part ways.

Although Perez contributed to the team’s success throughout the last four years, notably achieving a historical one-two in the Drivers’ Championship in 2023, the Mexican has not always been popular among the Verstappen camp.

Discussing the downfall of Perez on The Race YouTube channel, journalist Ben Anderson highlighted one incident which saw them suspect the Mexican of foul play.

Sergio Perez suspected by Verstappen camp of crashing on purpose

All of Perez’s five Grand Prix victories came on street circuits, but there was one that was arguably the most iconic: his win at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2022.

Perez effectively sealed the win at the track notorious for being difficult to overtake on during qualifying, when he crashed on his final timed attempt. This wreaked Verstappen’s lap and everyone else’s ability to improve, awarding him pole position.

Verstappen’s camp would later insinuate that Perez crashed on purpose after the Mexican demanded he let him pass during the Brazilian GP to help him secure second in the championship.

Perez would ultimately miss out to Charles Leclerc and finish third, but the move in Monaco made him unpopular within the Verstappen camp.

“In stepping out of the support role, he made himself unpopular within the Verstappen camp. Especially when they suspected him of deliberately crashing in Monaco qualifying to prevent Max from beating his time,” said Anderson.

Helmut Marko says Sergio Perez ‘no longer fits’ within Red Bull fold

Perez last won a race at the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix which was in the first part of the year before the race moved to a later date this season.

Throughout the second half of 2024, Perez failed to finish inside the top 10 positions while Verstappen only finished outside the top six once during the Qatar GP Sprint race.

Speaking out for the first time since they terminated their contract, Helmut Marko said Perez ‘no longer fits’ within the Red Bull fold.

Although Perez does not have much interest in racing outside of F1, the Mexican does have considerable financial backing to find a seat elsewhere in motorsport either in IndyCar, WEC, or Formula E.