Verstappen gets new Red Bull team-mate: 'I will miss Perez'

Max Verstappen has declared that he will miss Sergio Perez following Red Bull's decision to axe the Mexican driver.

After four seasons as team-mates, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko have opted to end Perez's tenure with the Milton Keynes-based squad, even though he had a contract for next season.

Perez's abysmal form following the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola in May - scoring just 49 points in 18 grands prix - has resulted in Red Bull pulling the plug.

Perez's contractual situation, given he signed a new one-plus-one deal in early June, has resulted in negotiations dragging on 10 days after the final race in Abu Dhabi earlier this month.

Speaking in an interview with The New York Times in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen highlighted what Perez brought to the team.

"His general experience, he's a good team player," said Verstappen. "He's had a tough time this year, not fully his fault also with how the car was operating and behaving. It made it more difficult for him to drive it.

"He always brought great energy to the team as well, and he never gave up, even when times were really tough for him. That I can appreciate a lot.

"As I said, a great team-mate to have. There were never any games, and just very straightforward."

Over the four seasons, there was only one public contentious issue between the pair - in Brazil 2022 when Verstappen ignored a team order to allow Perez by.

It was suggested it was a form of payback for Perez apparently deliberately crashing at Monaco a few months previously to secure his position on the grid ahead of Verstappen.

"You have to forgive and forget, right?" said Verstappen. "I think that's how you have to operate in this world. But it [their relationship] has been great, honestly."

Simply asked whether he would miss Perez if he left, Verstappen replied: "For sure. I have a great relationship with Checo. We always got on very well."