Max Verstappen makes feelings clear as ex-Red Bull partner Sergio Perez returns to F1

Max Verstappen said he is "very happy" to see former team-mate Sergio Perez land a return to the Formula 1 grid. The Mexican has signed a deal with Cadillac to be one of the new team's first two drivers when they begin racing in 2026.

The 35-year-old was unveiled alongside Valtteri Bottas on Tuesday this week before both drivers attended a press conference with select media, including Mirror Sport. Perez then travelled to Mexico City for another Cadillac event in his homeland on Wednesday.

And, at media sessions ahead of this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix on Thursday, Verstappen was given the chance to give his verdict on the news. The Dutchman comprehensively beat Perez across all four seasons that they were team-mates at Red Bull.

And he said: "When I saw the news, I sent a message to him, I am very happy he got a seat. He is a great guy, I am very happy to see him back on the grid. It is a new opportunity and I imagine he is very excited for it.

"He has driven at lots of teams, and every team works in a different way so that is interesting. Also the behaviour of cars – he has been in different rule sets and regulations.

"So to have that general understanding of how a great car is, hopefully that will push them forward in the beginning as it is never easy to jump into Formula 1 and be competitive straight away."

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Perez also confirmed that Verstappen had been in touch to congratulate him on the news. He also name-checked Alpine duo Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto as he expressed his shock at the reaction of his peers to the announcement that he will be back.

The Mexican said: "I was surprised by it. I got messaged by a lot of drivers. They seemed to miss me. I would say the first one was Max. Max was straight on... team-mates, Gasly, Franco, they did send me a message. We have a group where they posted the message, so it was nice to see they are happy to see me back."

Perez endured a difficult final season at Red Bull but, in Tuesday's press conference, insisted he will be ready to hit the ground running next March. He said: "It was very important to have this time off the sport... I needed that time back to disconnect myself from the sport a bit and to understand what I really want next in my career.

"I don't feel like there's anything to prove. To me, it's more coming back to enjoy the sport. I want to enjoy the sport, the sport that I love, the sport that has given me so much. I couldn't afford to leave the way I left the sport and this is why I'm coming back with this new project. I hope it's a very successful one. But, more than anything, I want to enjoy this comeback."