When Sergio Perez announced his big move to the new Cadillac Formula 1 team for 2026, the motorsport world erupted with excitement. But have you ever wondered who was the very first F1 driver to reach out and congratulate “Checo” on this career-defining decision? Well, it turns out the answer is none other than Max Verstappen, his former teammate and one of the biggest names in the sport.
Yes, the same Max Verstappen who has dominated much of the F1 scene in recent years was the first to send his best wishes to Perez. It’s a sign of respect and camaraderie between two fierce competitors who shared many intense battles on the track for Red Bull. Despite the ups and downs Sergio Perez faced during his stint at Red Bull, Verstappen’s quick gesture showed that the bond between them remains strong off-track as well.
Sergio Perez Reveals Who Congratulated Him First
Sergio Perez himself revealed this in a recent interview shortly after the announcement of his signing with Cadillac, the new American team entering F1 in 2026. He said, “I was surprised by it, it messaged by a lot of drivers. They seem to miss me. I will say the first one was Max [Verstappen], he was straight on. Teammates, [Pierre] Gasly, Franco [Colapinto], they did send a message, and we have a group where they most times put a message, so it was nice to see that they are happy to see me back.” Coming from a seven-time world champion and one of the sport’s most influential figures, that congratulations carry some serious weight.
Now, with Cadillac, Sergio Perez gets to channel his vast experience and racing instincts into helping build a fresh front-running car from the ground up. And hearing support from key peers like Max Verstappen only boosts his motivation and confidence.
Also read: Toto Wolff Reacts On Valtteri Bottas Joining Cadillac
