A promise kept: Verstappen’s special gift brings smile to Perez

Sergio Perez’s 2025 sabbatical came with a long-promised delivery – and a reminder that some bonds in Formula 1 outlast the fiercest scrutiny.

The Mexican driver took to social media to acknowledge receiving a special gift from his former Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen: a helmet, handed over at last after months of anticipation.

Perez shared a picture of himself alongside Verstappen, proudly displaying the precious helmet that featured a heartfelt message written by the Dutchman across the visor: “Thanks for being a great team-mate and friend.”

Perez’s caption that accompanied the picture and several other snapshots form 2025 said plenty: “2025 sabbatical, you left too quickly.”

It was a playful nod to his year away from the grid – and to a chapter that closed sooner than expected.

The moment marked the fulfilment of a public promise Verstappen had made earlier in the year, after Perez had previously gifted the world champion one of his own helmets.

“I still need to give him a helmet of mine – I promised him that,” Verstappen said. “Because he gave me one of his with a very nice message on it.

“I promised him, hopefully around Mexico that I can give him mine. So, for me, whatever is written in the media, I know how Checo is and we have a great relationship.”

Beyond the Red Bull Spotlight

Perez and Verstappen spent multiple seasons together at Red Bull, forming one of the grid’s most heavily analysed driver pairings.

While Verstappen thrived en route to multiple titles, Perez endured a tougher 2024 campaign, eventually losing his seat for 2025. Those who followed – Liam Lawson and later Yuki Tsunoda – also struggled alongside the four-time world champion, underlining the scale of the challenge.

But the 35-year-old Mexican is set to return this year with Cadillac, joining Valtteri Bottas as the American team enters the sport during a major regulation overhaul.

“I wanted to come back to finish my career properly but at the same time I thought you know I mean does it really matter you know if I don't get the right project the right motivation to come back I was not even going to consider it for a second,” Perez told Sky Sports last October.

“I’m very excited because I believe that I still have a lot to give to the sport. I want to finish it on a high… I feel like people will be surprised on how competitive, how good I will be on my comeback.

“So I feel like I have this final point to prove in my career and make sure that I leave whenever I want to.”

One helmet. One message. And a reminder that even in F1’s harshest seasons, respect can still shine through.

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