On Sunday, Max Verstappen secured victory in a thrilling edition of the São Paulo Grand Prix. In a chaotic race plagued by heavy rainfall, the Red Bull driver came out on top. This was clearly due to his own talents; teammate Sergio Pérez, in the same RB20, could only manage P11. According to Jos Verstappen, it’s only a matter of time before Liam Lawson takes over the second Red Bull seat.
It seems that Max Verstappen has to hold his own at the forefront. Sergio Pérez has only finished on the podium four times in the past twenty-one races. In comparison, Verstappen has already been on the podium thirteen times this year. “He doesn’t mind at all,” father Jos Verstappen assured Viaplay. “He has to do it alone, and he is strong enough for that.”
Lawson to Red Bull?
The Red Bull team management is reportedly also doubting Pérez’s two-year contract. In principle, the Mexican is supposed to stay in Milton Keynes until 2026, but it’s an open secret that Visa RB drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are being groomed for their debut with the main team. According to senior Verstappen, the latter is the ideal candidate to place next to son Max.
“I think Lawson is doing very well,” Jos Verstappen explained. “It seems logical to me that he will succeed Pérez. If it were up to me, he could finish this season at Red Bull to build some confidence. Then the team can decide next year what the best choice is.” According to the former Formula 1 driver, his son also benefits from a competitive teammate. “It’s always better if there’s someone next to Max who is somewhat competitive. That always helps. But we’ll see!” he concluded.
