Sergio Perez’s father, Antonio Pérez Garibay, has made an explosive claim that Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was “not the same” car as the one Sergio Perez drove during the 2024 Formula 1 season. His statement has sent shockwaves through the paddock just days before the Japanese Grand Prix.

Perez, who struggled significantly throughout the season, was ultimately dropped by Red Bull after finishing eighth in the championship, scoring only a third of Verstappen’s points. The Mexican driver’s lackluster performance not only cost him his seat but also contributed to Red Bull’s surprising drop to third in the Constructors’ standings.

In a recent interview on the Formula de 2 podcast, Antonio Perez boldly stated:

“What I’m about to say will cause a lot of commotion, but the car with number 1 [Verstappen] was not the same as the car with number 11 [Perez]. And if you were to put the driver of car 1 in car 11, he won’t get out of Q1 in qualifying either. The cars were not the same.”

His remarks have sparked intense debate within the F1 community, with many questioning whether Red Bull provided equal machinery to both drivers.

George Russell Weighs In

Mercedes driver George Russell has now echoed some of Perez Sr.’s sentiments, suggesting that disparities within teams are not unheard of in Formula 1. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Russell expressed his perspective on the matter:

“There’s always been speculation about whether top teams truly give both drivers equal machinery. I can’t speak for Red Bull, but it’s no secret that in the past, certain setups or developments have been prioritized for the lead driver. That’s just how this sport works sometimes.”

Russell further added:

“If Sergio’s father is saying this, then it’s coming from somewhere. Whether it’s the full story or not, we’ll never know. But I think every driver on the grid knows that sometimes, things aren’t exactly 50-50 in a team, especially when you have a dominant champion like Max.”

With Red Bull now promoting Yuki Tsunoda to replace Liam Lawson, many eyes will be on the Japanese driver to see if he receives equal treatment at his home race. Antonio Perez has already called on the team to provide Tsunoda with “the best car Red Bull can give him” to avoid disappointing their Japanese fans.

As tensions rise ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Red Bull’s performance and whether Perez’s father’s claims hold any weight on track.