Sergio Pérez has recently reflected on his tenure at Red Bull Racing, describing his time as Max Verstappen’s teammate as ‘the toughest job in Formula One’. The Mexican driver, now competing with the new Cadillac team in the 2026 season, offered a candid assessment of the internal dynamics at his former outfit. Pérez departed Red Bull at the close of the 2024 season, spending 2025 on the sidelines before his return to the grid this year.
Pérez stated that the Red Bull project was fundamentally structured around Verstappen from its inception. He explained that from his very first discussions with Christian Horner, it was made clear that while the team operated two cars, the long-term vision was centered on Verstappen as the primary talent.
This team structure created a challenging environment for Pérez. He admitted that if he was faster than Verstappen, it often became a significant problem, leading to a tense atmosphere within the team. Pérez also noted that Verstappen consistently had access to the most experienced engineers and the team’s top resources.
The pressure intensified during the 2023 season when Pérez felt he was genuinely fighting Verstappen on equal footing. He recounted a period where he suddenly felt a loss of control over his car, resulting in a performance drop of up to a second per lap. This, he explained, was not only a technical issue but also a mental one, influenced by an environment that did not foster internal competition.
Despite these challenges, Pérez maintained that he was aware of the situation before joining Red Bull. He chose to focus on making the most of his circumstances rather than complaining. He also credits his four years alongside Verstappen with making him a faster driver and teaching him valuable lessons in team leadership.
Pérez believes he ‘overdelivered’ during his four seasons with Red Bull. He now denies ‘overdelivering’ at Cadillac, asserting that his perceived poor form at Red Bull was due to ‘very different circumstances’ and that he was already performing at a high level.
Currently, Pérez is partnered with Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac. He hopes that his progress and performance with the American squad will ultimately define his lasting legacy in Formula 1.
‘Being Max’s teammate at Red Bull is the worst job there is in F1,’ Pérez told a podcast. ‘I knew what I was up against.’
