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Jos Verstappen says his son Max’s Baku response to the events of Monaco shows being challenged makes him better.

It is a trip back to 2018 to find the last time Verstappen was accustomed to a Red Bull team-mate causing a real threat to his number one status but in 2022, Sergio Perez has started to change that trend.

Following the regulatory changes, Perez has now found himself much closer to Verstappen’s performance level, winning the Monaco Grand Prix before taking the lead from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at the start of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix most recently.

Jos was critical of the Red Bull team after Monaco, believing they had done little to help their reigning World Champion in terms of strategy. He finished P3, while Perez won the race.

For a time it had looked as though Perez would make it back-to-back wins both in 2022 and at the Baku City Circuit, but as Verstappen caught up to his team-mate Red Bull issued the order of “no fighting”, Perez making the pass easy as Verstappen took the lead and sailed away to claim victory.

And to Jos’ mind, it is in situations like that, where Max needs to respond to being challenged, that he steps up a level.

“You could see Max was very motivated,” Jos wrote in his column.

“That had of course to do with the previous race in Monaco, but he doesn’t really let it get to him. I think that’s very beautiful, it only makes him better. A challenged Max is an even better