Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen has developed into one of the great Formula 1 rivalries, though many connected to the sport have fantasised over what would happen if they were teammates.<\/p>\n
Hamilton<\/a> would not survive. That is the blunt answer provided by Verstappen\u2019s former Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, who says that no driver has what it takes to keep head above water as a Red Bull teammate to Verstappen.<\/p>\n Max Verstappen would defeat Lewis Hamilton too, says Perez<\/p>\n Hamilton and Verstappen delivered an all-time classic battle over the 2021 Drivers\u2019 Championship, one which went all the way to the last race in Abu Dhabi, where the duo arrived level on points, winner takes all. Verstappen emerged victorious as a World Champion for the first time.<\/p>\n The defensive driving exploits of Perez proved a major boost for Verstappen on his way to that first title, but over the years, Perez\u2019s performance suffered, to the point that he departed Red Bull after the 2024 campaign.<\/p>\n Liam Lawson lasted just two races as his replacement, while Yuki Tsunoda has also struggled severely alongside Verstappen at Red Bull.<\/p>\n Sky F1\u2019s Karun Chandhok put it to Perez that it was tough last year up against Verstappen, driving a tricky Red Bull, while he had \u201cpeople like me and all of us saying: \u2018Come on Checo! You\u2019re half a second off. What\u2019s going on here?’\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t been saying that much to the current ones have you,\u201d Perez replied.<\/p>\n Told that it is not true, and that Tsunoda has been even further away from Verstappen, as was Lawson, Perez was asked if he feels a sense of vindication considering the struggles experienced by both successors.<\/p>\n \u201cI think people, you know from the outside\u2026 I don\u2019t like criticising the drivers that have been there, because I was in that position. I know what exactly they\u2019re going through.<\/p>\n \u201cThe minute I signed my exit with Red Bull, when we came to an agreement, I knew that, poor guy who comes here, because I managed to survive. It\u2019s a very difficult place.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, being next to Max is very difficult. But being next to Max in Red Bull, it\u2019s something people don\u2019t understand, and there\u2019s so many things that I could tell you about it, but it\u2019s simply just a very difficult job for a driver.\u201d<\/p>\n There has been no shortage of theories over the years to try to explain why Verstappen\u2019s teammates struggle so much. The car is built and developed around Verstappen, some say. It is Verstappen\u2019s unique driving style, which teammates cannot drive a Red Bull with, others claim.<\/p>\n Perhaps, it is just that Verstappen is that much better than the drivers put alongside him at Red Bull.<\/p>\n Perez pointed towards one of those theories, and argued that you could take a seven-time World Champion in Hamilton, or his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc \u2013 regarded as one of the fastest drivers in F1 \u2013 but put them next to Verstappen, and they will suffer the same fate.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no driver that can survive there,\u201d Perez bluntly stated. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if you bring Hamilton or Leclerc, whoever you bring there, is going to struggle massively.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a very unique driving style that you have to constantly be adapting to the needs of Max. Simple as that.\u201d<\/p>\n How F1 2026 is shaping up<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 F1 2026 driver line-up: Who is already confirmed for the 2026 grid?<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 F1 2026: Confirmed teams and power unit suppliers for F1\u2019s huge regulation changes<\/a><\/p>\n Perez will get a shot at redemption, as he will be back on the grid for F1 2026. Perez, and fellow F1 veteran Valtteri Bottas, are sidelined no more having joined Cadillac to form their first F1 driver line-up.<\/p>\n Perez comes back with a point to prove, and a belief that he will surpass people\u2019s expectations.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very excited, because I believe that I still have a lot to give to the sport,\u201d said Perez on his impending F1 return with Cadillac.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very lucky with the career I\u2019ve had, but I want to finish it on a high. I believe that the last year has been difficult in my career, and I know how good I can be with the right environment around me.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like people will be surprised on how competitive, how good I will be on my comeback, and have that motivation already with me.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I feel like I have this final point to prove in my career, and make sure that I leave whenever I want to.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1, and much more!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n