Sergio Perez aimed a cheeky dig at Red Bull after Lando Norris beat Max Verstappen to the 2025 Formula 1 world championship.
Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday but it was not enough to stop Norris from being crowned champion after the McLaren driver finished third.
The British star pipped Verstappen to the title by just two points, with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri only a further 11 points adrift, the tightest championship finish since 2008.
Verstappen did all he needed to do at Yas Marina by winning from pole and had Norris finished just one place lower, the Dutchman would have clinched a record-equalling fifth title in a row.
For much of the race, Norris was under pressure from Charles Leclerc in fourth and as such Red Bull instructed their other driver Yuki Tsunoda to do everything to hold up Norris and back him up into the Ferrari when he found himself in front after the first round of pit-stops.
The strategy was reminiscent of the title showdown in 2021, when Verstappen’s then-teammate Perez brilliantly held up Lewis Hamilton and cost him crucial seconds that ultimately helped Verstappen win the title.
Tsunoda did not have the same success however, with Norris quickly getting past, even after the Japanese driver forced the McLaren off the road.
Many fans were quick to point how poor Tsunoda’s defence was compared to Perez’s, who was axed by Red Bull last year after a very poor season that cost the team the constructors’ championship.
On Twitter, one user posted a meme featuring the Marvel character Thanos telling Perez ‘perhaps I treated you too harshly’.
And the Mexican seemed to agree, reposting the meme with the caption ‘Perhaps’ and a laughing emoji.
Perez, a former McLaren driver too, later added his congratulations to Norris, tweeting: ‘Bravo Lando Norris you and all McLaren congratulations!! Well deserved.’
More to follow…
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