"You can easily tell he got really emotional": Fans react to Max Verstappen remembering Sergio Perez's defensive drive against Lewis Hamilton in 2021
F1 fans reacted to Max Verstappen getting emotional while recalling how Sergio Perez helped him win against Lewis Hamilton in the 2021 F1 season. Verstappen recalled the moment after Red Bull confirmed Perez's exit from the team.
The 34-year-old has had a challenging season in 2024. He had a strong start to the season, bagging podiums and keeping up with his teammate, Max Verstappen. However, he tumbled down the standings after the Monaco GP, lost the ability to earn respectable points, and failed to place on the podium following the Chinese GP. After the Abu Dhabi GP, Red Bull decided to part ways with the Mexican, and the announcement was made on Wednesday, December 18.
To bid Checo farewell, the team's official Instagram account released a clip of Max Verstappen talking about his teammate's efforts in the 2021 F1 season. The Dutchman claimed that without Checo's help, he would not have won his first world championship against Lewis Hamilton.
In the clip, Verstappen was seen opening a framed picture of him and Checo hugging after the former won his maiden world title.
"I remember this one. He's been a great teammate to me, as you can see of course in this picture. You know, without his help, of course, in that race, that would not have happened. So I will always be thankful to him for that," Verstappen said.
"But I think what has been the really most important thing is he’s always been just really enjoyable, straightforward, honest, and that’s not many times that you will have a teammate that I can tell all these things about. I’ve been very thankful to Checo, also just as a person, not just as a teammate," he added.
Many F1 fans wrote heartwarming messages for both Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. They discussed how the four-time world champion got emotional after recalling Checo's contribution to the 2021 F1 season.
"You can easily tell he got really emotional. That’s rare on my #GO4T, so yeah, he really enjoyed the time with Sergio. I’m happy Sergio finally got peace. That’s what matters the most sometimes," one fan wrote.
"Max is so real as a person. Like he’s a normal human being who can drive an F1 car better than anyone else. Thanks, Checo," another hailed.
Some followers praised both the Red Bull drivers and labeled them as one of the best driver lineups in F1.
"It's actually very rare to find partnership like Max and Checo. They even won MTW award for the best pair :D will be missed," one follower wrote.
"Teammates :(" another sorrowfully added.
"Inga tu roñaaa, i’m gonna cry," a user chimed in.
Sergio Perez bids farewell to Red Bull and Max Verstappen
After Red Bull officially announced Sergio Perez's departure, the Mexican penned a heartfelt farewell message on his social media accounts. He wrote about his journey with Red Bull and praised the team for the opportunities they offered. He also thanked the team members who worked hard with him.
“A big thank you to every person in the team from the management, engineers and mechanics, catering, hospitality, kitchen, marketing and communications, as well as everyone at Milton Keynes, I wish you all the best for the future. It has also been an honour to race alongside Max as a team mate all these years and to share in our success,” Checo said.
As of now, Sergio Perez is yet to reveal anything about his future endeavors in the sport.