Verstappen shares Red Bull team-mate preference

Max Verstappen has backed embattled team-mate Sergio Perez, whose future will be decided in the coming days.

The six-time grand prix winner underwhelmed for Red Bull over the final three quarters of the 2024 F1 season, but the Dutchman maintains the driver alongside him has been treated "very harsh" through the year.

Having started the campaign strongly, like the team around him, Perez's performance took a considerable hit. Even the security of a new contract could not arrest his slump in form.

Now, it is that very contract the Mexican is clinging to as he looks to survive what is set to be a cold winter in Milton Keynes. 

Having prevailed through a first round of crunch talks in the summer, Perez may not be so fortunate a second time around, regardless of him defiantly maintaining he will not give up his race seat.

In that eventuality, Red Bull will likely opt to force him aside, but how those conversations and the contract situation will shake out remains to be seen.

RB's Liam Lawson looks set to take over, with the New Zealander believed to be preferred to team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, despite the Japanese driver out-performing him in the six rounds since Lawson succeeded Daniel Ricciardo.

To Verstappen, however, circumstances appear less sure. Following the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the four-time F1 drivers' champion was unclear on whether he would have a new team-mate next year.

"I don't know. This is up to the team," he told media including RacingNews365 when asked if he was expecting a change to be made.

It was also queried with the 27-year-old whether he had any preference, to which he replied: "I always worked really well with Checo [Sergio Perez].

"He's a great guy. Honestly, [it's] very rare that you have a team-mate like him. He has always been very good and just a nice guy, to be honest."