Sergio Perez’s father Antonio Perez Garibay has denied any suggestions that Red Bull show “favouritism” towards double World Champion Max Verstappen and that they sabotaged his son’s car, with him labelling all the accusations as “lies”.
Tension has certainly been building between Perez and Verstappen since the Brazilian Grand Prix last season, where both drivers hit out at one another after Verstappen ignored team orders.
Verstappen was ordered to let Perez overtake him for P6, something he failed to do.
It’s believed that Verstappen’s refusal to let Perez past was due to believing that the Mexican crashed on purpose in Q3 at the Monaco Grand Prix last season, denying Verstappen pole.
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Team principal Christian Horner denied that the duo had issues and that they actually spoke after the race; however, a second talk between the pair has already taken place this year.
Supposedly, Verstappen and Perez spoke after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, after Verstappen claimed the fastest lap on the final lap.
Perez, of course, claimed victory in Jeddah but was visibly unhappy to see that Verstappen had snatched the fastest lap, spreading rumours that all was not well amongst the Red Bull camp.
Those rumours intensified after some fans questioned whether Red Bull had tampered with Perez’s car in Australia, something his father completely denies.
Lies, lies, lies,” he said on a YouTube podcast.
“It is the best team in the world and there is no favouritism to anyone. Everything you hear is pure speculation. I think we have to concentrate on the many races ahead.”
Perez started the Australian Grand Prix from the pit-lane after retiring in Q1, due to having become beached in the gravel.
He did well to recover to fifth; however, he slipped to 15 points behind his team-mate in the Drivers’ Championship.
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Perez’s father has continued to silence speculation of any rift between his son and Verstappen, despite having previously stated that Verstappen “feels the breath of Checo in his helmet”.
“They are both great drivers. Red Bull has the two best players in the field,” Perez’s father added.
“I hope that more drivers and more teams will compete in the battle for the championship and that it is not just between Checo and Max.”