MAX VERSTAPPEN has ruled out handing victory to Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez at the Mexico Grand Prix this weekend.
Perez, 32, is aiming to win his home GP for the first time, having grabbed his maiden podium there last season.
Victory for the Mexican would delight his home crowd and help him in his quest to finish above Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in the driver standings.
But Verstappen, who has already won the world championship, won’t be handing out any freebies.
The Dutchman said: “Well, he knows what he has to do to finish a second, he has to finish ahead of Charles.
“As a team, we always try to be first and second and as a driver, I want to win more races.
“I still want to win the races, so I’m here to do the best I can. It’s a bit more relaxing, but I know that once I sit in the car I always want the best.”
Pressed on what he would do if he happened to be leading Perez going into the final lap, he added: “I’m winning.
“He is anyway outscoring Charles [in that case], so that’s all he needs. Let’s see.
“Anyway, first we have to be that competitive. We don’t know yet.”
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Perez currently trails Leclerc by two points in a tight race for second.
Should Verstappen win on Sunday, however, he will clinch a slice of history of his own.
A victory would be the 25-year-old’s 15th of the season – overtaking the record tally of 14 set by F1 legends Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher.
