Hometown Hero Max Verstappen Snubbed as $22 Million Worth Dutch DJ Wants Sergio Perez to Win the World Championship

Sergio Perez is having arguably his best season in F1 to date. After four rounds in the championship, he stands second, just six points behind leader Max Verstappen and with a win in Miami, he can lead the standings for the first time in his career.

Perez’s great run of form continued as he grabbed the pole position for the 2023 Miami GP on Saturday. To present him with his Pirelli pole position award, Dutch DJ Tiësto was called upon. Tiësto, who is worth $22 million, told Perez that he’s a huge fan of his.

As Perez took the award, shook his hand, and walked away, Tiësto said, “I hope you win it this year.” This was posted by a fan on F1 Reddit, who managed to record Tiësto’s comments.

Verstappen, who is one of the most famous athletes and personalities from the Netherlands, was snubbed by one the most popular musicians of his own country. The 54-year-old DJ wants a change in the scene and hopes for Perez to defeat his hometown hero Verstappen in the 2023 world championship.

Max Verstappen under threat from Sergio Perez

Perez joined Red Bull in 2021 but spent the first two seasons, majorly under his teammate Verstappen’s shadow. The Dutchman went on to win two consecutive world titles with Perez miles off the pace but in 2023, he has risen up to the challenge at long last.

Of course, it is still early days in the season, and Verstappen can still run away with it in the months to come. However, the early signs are pointing towards a close fight between the Red Bull teammates, which fans are excited about.

If Perez manages to hold on to his lead, and finish ahead of Verstappen in the Miami GP on Sunday, he will go clear of Verstappen in the standings. It will be the first time in his career, that the Guadalajara-born driver leads the drivers’ championship.

Charles Leclerc’s misfortune spoils Verstappen’s party

Leclerc, who crashed into the barriers during FP2 on Friday, suffered the same fate during his final push lap in Q3 of qualifying. The Ferrari driver’s shunt ended the session as it brought out a red flag, and no other driver was able to put in a lap time after that.

Verstappen, who was in P9 and getting ready to improve on his time, got stuck in ninth and will start the race from the fifth row on Sunday. Leclerc himself was in P7 when he was pushing hard before his crash, and will start the Miami GP four places behind his teammate Carlos Sainz.