Sergio Perez doesn't believe Max Verstappen is a "bad loser" as the pair enjoy a relationship based on "respect".

The two Red Bull drivers are in the early stages of a head-to-head duel for this year's Formula 1 championship as the RB19 dominates the rest of the field.

And at moments when Perez has enjoyed the upper hand, Verstappen hasn't always come across as gracious in defeat.

Checo though claims criticism of the Dutchman's sportsmanship is unfair.

“He’s a good loser, I’ll say," he was quoted by PlanetF1.

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“He has a fame of [a] bad loser, but honestly whenever I beat him he’s like, he’s really like, ‘Well done’ and it’s not very normal in Formula 1 to have that sort of teammate.

“He really comes and [says], ‘Well done mate’ – and you can see that he feels it.

“I appreciate that.”

More broadly, Perez also insists there is no tension between himself and Verstappen.

“To be honest we have a lot more respect for each other than people out there might think,” he said.

“There’s a great atmosphere in the team, there’s a very high level of respect between each other, with all the engineers on his side and mine.

“I think we’re both mature enough to know what’s right and what’s wrong, and as long as that’s the case I don’t expect that to change.”

But presented with the best chance of his career to become F1 champion, Perez knows the task he is facing.

“Of course, if I want to win the championship, I have to beat Max weekend in and weekend out, and keep this level of consistency throughout the season,” he said.

“It’s all about this season’s consistency, you know.

“You can win 15 races, but if in the other races, you just crash and have DNFs and so on, it is not enough. It’s just reaching that level of consistency and taking it race by race.

“There is no doubt that there is no driver on such a form as Max. Together with the team as well as with the car, he is definitely the hardest driver to beat.

“It will require the maximum out of me to bring my A-game every single weekend.”