Verstappen’s dad in painfully awkward moment as radio spat re-ignites Red Bull tension

A painfully awkward moment featuring Max Verstappen’s father hints there could be more to the bubbling rivalry between the defending champion and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez than first thought.

As Perez received back-slaps and bear hugs from the Red Bull team after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he made his way past Jos Verstappen.

The Dutchman gave a nod of acknowledgment towards Perez, but refused to offer any handshakes or other gestures of congratulations.

Perez then gave a big and lengthy hug to the people next to Verstappen, who didn’t quite know where to look and seemed as if he’d rather be anywhere else in that moment.

The post-race scene adds to a moment of tension between the defending champion and Perez during the race itself.

In the latter stages of the race, Verstappen inquired with the Red Bull team as to who had the fastest lap and what it was.

A Red Bull engineer replied: “We’re not concerned about that at the moment, Max.”

But the superstar was having none of it.

“Yeah, but I am,” came the reply from Verstappen.

The latest chapter in their internal rivalry comes after the infamous incident during the Brazilian Grand Prix last year when Verstappen defied team orders to allow Perez to pass him on the final lap.

The defending champion was instructed multiple times by race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, but he refused to do so and provided an equally frosty response when questioned why he didn’t follow orders.

“I told you already last time, you guys don’t ask that again to me, OK? Are we clear about that? I gave my reasons and I stand by it,” Verstappen said.

Perez, furious at being denied a chance to advance, said Verstappen’s failure to let him pass “shows who he really is” once he crossed the line in seventh place.