Sergio Perez has provided insight into his four seasons at Red Bull Racing, detailing the operational reality alongside Max Verstappen. The Mexican driver, who departed the team at the close of the 2024 season, stated that Verstappen received comprehensive support from the Milton Keynes outfit.
Perez, now competing with Cadillac in the 2026 Formula 1 season, revealed that access to senior and experienced engineers was primarily directed towards his former teammate. He described this as a significant factor in the performance disparity between the two drivers.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Perez characterised facing Verstappen at Red Bull as the ‘toughest challenge’ in Formula 1. He noted that the team environment was distinctly geared towards the Dutch driver.
Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principal, reportedly informed Perez upon his arrival that the team operated with two cars out of necessity. Horner allegedly stated that the entire project was built around Verstappen to secure championships.
Perez’s tenure at Red Bull spanned from the 2021 through the 2024 seasons. During this period, he played a supporting role in several of Verstappen’s and the team’s title successes.
The car’s development trajectory increasingly favoured Verstappen’s driving style, particularly during the ground-effect era. This left Perez in a challenging position as the season progressed.
Perez also recounted a constant atmosphere of scrutiny regarding his performance. He explained that both strong and weak results led to tension within the team.
Early in his Red Bull career, following a series of less favourable results, Perez was advised to seek psychological assistance. He was open to this suggestion at the time.
Despite the challenges, Perez expressed pride in maintaining his engineering team throughout his four years at Red Bull. He views this as a personal achievement.
Since joining Cadillac for the current 2026 season, Perez has reported feeling ‘much more appreciated.’ He noted that his feedback on car development is now valued.
His recent performances with Cadillac have reportedly boosted his confidence. Perez believes he can perform at a high level when the circumstances are appropriate for his talent.
Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya has commented on Perez’s statements. Montoya suggested that Perez was aware of the situation he was entering at Red Bull.
Montoya also highlighted that Red Bull provided Perez with opportunities, including five race victories. He questioned the extent of Perez’s complaints given these successes.
Some observers suggest that Red Bull has faced internal difficulties since Perez’s departure. This includes challenges in retaining key personnel and managing team dynamics.
