Sergio Perez has disclosed surprising details regarding his strained relationship with Max Verstappen that surfaced during the 2022 Formula 1 season at Red Bull Racing. The revelation occurred at the Brazilian Grand Prix, where Perez allowed Verstappen to overtake him as part of a strategic move to improve their positions. However, Verstappen did not make the most of this chance, leading Red Bull to instruct him to return the position to Perez, who was in contention for second place in the drivers’ championship. Unexpectedly, Verstappen refused this team order, citing undisclosed reasons for his refusal.

Monaco Crash as a Possible Source of the Tension

The origin of the tension has been extensively debated, with many attributing it to Perez’s crash during the late Q3 session at the Monaco Grand Prix earlier in the season. This incident reportedly hampered Verstappen’s opportunity to improve his qualifying time. When questioned about this on the Desde el Paddock podcast, Perez hinted that the complete account of the fallout would be revealed in his upcoming autobiography.

“That’s something I’m saving for my book – I’ll give you the full story there,”

he teased.

Perez Comments on Verstappen’s Lingering Resentment

Despite the public curiosity, Perez confirmed that Verstappen had held a grudge related to the Monaco crash, which surprised Perez since he believed they had addressed the issue soon after it happened.

“Max had an issue with what happened in Monaco,”

Perez admitted.

“He never told me directly, he kept it to himself and brought it up six or eight months later. At the time, we talked about it and cleared everything up,”

he added.

“But Max is like that. He holds things in until he finally lets them out, usually on the track.”

Ongoing Impact and Anticipation for Further Revelations

The intense dispute between Perez and Verstappen has attracted significant attention across the F1 community, with fans eager to learn more from Perez’s upcoming book. This incident sheds light on the complex dynamics within top-tier racing teams and might influence how driver relationships are managed in the future. As this story continues to evolve, it remains a key development in the 2022 season’s narrative and the broader rivalry within Red Bull Racing.