Sergio Pérez has offered insight into the dynamics at Red Bull Racing during his tenure, reflecting on the inherent challenges of being Max Verstappen’s teammate. Pérez, who departed Red Bull at the close of the 2024 season, recently stated that ‘everything is for Max’ within the team structure.
The Mexican driver, now competing with Cadillac in the 2026 Formula 1 season, acknowledged that facing Verstappen at Red Bull presented the ‘toughest challenge’ in his career. He indicated that he understood this operational focus from the outset of his contract.
Pérez’s reflections come as Verstappen has experienced a challenging start to the 2026 campaign, marked by several retirements. The four-time world champion has faced reliability issues with his Red Bull RB22 power unit.
During the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this season, Verstappen retired from the race due to engine trouble. This was an early indication of the technical difficulties Red Bull has encountered.
A subsequent retirement occurred at the Monaco Grand Prix in June. Verstappen’s car suffered an engine issue during the formation lap, causing it to bog down at the start of the race. Red Bull confirmed that an engine-related problem was responsible for the incident.
Most recently, Verstappen retired from the British Grand Prix on July 5, 2026, due to a rear wing failure. He expressed significant frustration over team radio following the incident, stating, ‘F* this car, f*! Unbelievable. F* this.’
Verstappen later clarified that while the outcome was similar to a qualifying crash at the Austrian Grand Prix a week prior, the British GP failure was a distinct issue. These incidents have contributed to a difficult 2026 season for Red Bull.
Red Bull Racing, now utilizing Ford Red Bull Powertrains, has not achieved the start they anticipated for the 2026 season. The team was positioned sixth in the constructors’ standings after the initial three rounds.
Pérez, meanwhile, has completed five races with the new Cadillac team since his return to Formula 1. He has expressed satisfaction with his personal performance, despite the operational challenges inherent with a new team.
‘I’m very happy with my performances. I’m happy I came back and have proven to myself that I’m one of the best out there,’ Pérez stated after the Canadian Grand Prix in May.
Cadillac has brought in experienced drivers Pérez and Valtteri Bottas for their inaugural 2026 season. The team has shown progress, particularly after upgrades introduced at the Miami Grand Prix.
