Sympathy for Perez: 'He didn't crash on purpose in Monaco'

After a perfect season, Max Verstappen nevertheless continues to receive criticism. Pedro de la Rosa, currently ambassador for Aston Martin, is the next former driver to criticise the Dutchman.

Reportedly - it has never been confirmed - Verstappen ignored team orders in Brazil, as Sergio Perez crashed deliberately in Monaco. As a result, the world champion could not finish his fast lap. De la Rosa, however, cannot imagine at all that Perez deliberately put his Red Bull into the crash barrier. "It is not in a driver's DNA to crash deliberately," he told several media outlets, including Motorsport.

Perez did benefit from his crash, just as, for example, George Russell benefited from his spin in qualifying for Brazil. De la Rosa thinks that is no longer acceptable. "So to avoid suspicion, there should be a change in the regulations where drivers who cause red flags in qualifying are penalised. Or even double yellow flags, which could end up being just as damaging as a red flag. In other categories, it has been proven to work."

Verstappen captured his second world title in 2022. According to De la Rosa, he is also the big favourite for the upcoming season. The former F1 driver adds that it will definitely be more exciting and that other teams will make it harder for him.