Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are currently in their 3rd year in Red Bull as teammates. Perez joined the team back in 2021 replacing Alexander Albon.
Red Bull has often had trouble finding the right driver for their second seat alongside Max Verstappen since Daniel Ricciardo left the team after 2018. The team tried their hand with Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon, but they could not match the pace of Max Verstappen.
For a while during the 2020 season, it was unsure who would be the driver taking the wheel of that second car in Red Bull from 2021 onwards. Even Red Bull was not sure who it would be. The questions were answered for Red Bull after the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix where Sergio Perez put on an incredible performance as he fought his way from the back of the pack to win the Grand Prix.
In 2021, fans felt that Red Bull had finally found the right driver to drive alongside Max Verstappen. Sergio Perez played an essential part in helping Max Verstappen win his 1st World Championship in 2021. He challenged Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas whenever he could to slow them down. He even earned the nickname, “Mexican Minister of Defence”. Perez had also given up his position multiple times to help Max in the Championship.
When did tensions start to rise between Verstappen and Perez?
In 2022, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez had a heated moment during the Brazilian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen had already won the Championship while Sergio Perez was still fighting for 2nd place in the Championship against Charles Leclerc.
Tension after the flag for Max and Checo 🏁#BrazilGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/hyEX5OZwa9
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 13, 2022
Towards the last lap of the race, Max Verstappen was running P6 with Sergio Perez in P7. Verstappen was asked to give the position to Sergio Perez to help him with his battle with Charles Leclerc who finished the race in P4. To the fans’ surprise, Max Verstappen refused to hand over the position to Sergio Perez. This had a very negative impact on Max Verstappen.
After this incident, Max Verstappen’s mother, Sophie Kumpen commented on a post of another person. She commented: “and then in the evening cheating on his wife”, accusing Sergio Perez of cheating on his wife. Sophie later deleted this comment, but it was too late.
Who is Max Verstappen’s mother?
Max Verstappen’s mother, Sophie Kumpen was also in the field of motorsport. She raced alongside a number of drivers who would go on to race in Formula 1 such as Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli, and Jenson Button. Her most recent appearance as a driver was during the Formido Swift Cup where she met with an accident at Zandvoort resulting in a broken spine. After this race, she chose to retire for good.
Sophie married Max Verstappen’s father in 1996. A year later, a future World Champion was born. Although she divorced Jos Verstappen in 2008, they worked together to support Max Verstappen in his career. Jos Verstappen had a rather unique way of raising his son. A lot of people consider it to be cruel even.
With both Sophie and Jos being successful racing drivers, it was almost inevitable that Max Verstappen would also become a racing driver. Max Verstappen is now considered to be the biggest talent in Formula 1. He has already won 2 Championships and is on his way to winning his 3rd. He and Red Bull are currently in incredible form.
Why did Sophie Kumpen call Sergio Perez a cheater?
Sergio Perez is currently married to Carola Martinez. The couple have been married since 2018 and have 1 child together. Sergio Perez has 2 other children from previous relationships whose mother has not been disclosed to the public.
Formula 1’s Sergio Perez caught on video dancing with mystery woman at ‘very bad party’ https://t.co/Xd9RfpEB6B pic.twitter.com/3o35vdBWs5
— New York Post (@nypost) June 6, 2022
After the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix which was won by Perez, he was seen partying with a young woman on a yacht. After the images of this went viral, Sergio Perez acknowledged the incident and apologized to his wife and the public for his actions.