Perez spent four seasons alongside Verstappen at Red Bull and played a key role in the team’s recent run of dominance, as Verstappen won four consecutive world championships.
Speaking on the Cracks Podcast, the Mexican driver said Verstappen’s mentality was central to that success, even if it occasionally created tension.
“Max is mentally super strong,” Perez said. “He has incredible confidence, huge talent and total focus on being the best. He pushes very hard and is a massive force for the team.”
Perez explained that Verstappen’s relentless desire to win defined how he behaved on and off the track. He added that the same fierce mindset could surface when circumstances turned against him.
“I think the bad is also part of his character,” Perez said. “When things turn against him, he struggles a lot to deal with it. But if he didn’t have that side, he wouldn’t be Max.”
The former Red Bull driver also reflected on the tension that emerged between them during the 2022 season, particularly at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Verstappen, who had already secured the world title, refused team orders to move aside as Perez fought Charles Leclerc for second place in the drivers’ standings.
The moment sparked widespread debate and underlined Verstappen’s uncompromising approach.
“When fans complained that he didn’t let me pass, I understood it,” Perez said. “To be world champion, you need that attitude of wanting to win everything.”
Perez added that Verstappen was a very different person once he climbed into the car. “Max is an excellent person, but something happens when he’s driving. He transforms. He becomes someone else,” he said.
The comments offered a rare insight into the mindset behind one of Formula 1’s most dominant champions, and the edge that continues to set Verstappen apart.
