Former Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez has recently stirred debate with his remarks about his time as Max Verstappen’s teammate from 2021 to 2024. While Perez highlighted difficulties during his stint at Red Bull, questioning the team’s approach to supporting drivers, his comments have been strongly challenged amid ongoing discussions in the Formula 1 community. This debate comes ahead of Perez’s planned return to racing with Cadillac in 2026, as fans and insiders revisit his Red Bull tenure.
Examining Perez’s Tenure and Claims About Team Dynamics
During his years at Red Bull, Perez managed to claim five Grand Prix wins but ultimately fell far behind Verstappen, ending his final season with a 285-point deficit. In an interview on the Crack podcast, Perez alleged that the team operated Red Bull’s two cars out of obligation rather than genuine competitive intent, suggesting the primary focus was on Verstappen’s championship pursuits. He expressed frustration, saying,
“At Red Bull, everything was a problem. If I was very fast, it was a problem. If I was slower than Max, it was a problem. So everything was a problem,”
demonstrating his sentiment of constant criticism regardless of performance.
Peter Windsor’s Critique: Rejecting Perez’s Assertions
Peter Windsor, former Ferrari Formula 1 manager, was quick to refute Perez’s narrative, labeling it as the behavior of “the perfect victim.” On the Cameron CC podcast, Windsor dismissed the idea that team bias explained Perez’s results, stating,
Image of: Charles Leclerc
“I don’t think there’s a grain of truth in it.”
He further argued that a top-tier driver like Charles Leclerc would have fared well given the same opportunity, remarking,
“If you had Charles Leclerc in the other Red Bull in the last five or six years, I think he would have been pretty successful.”
Windsor’s comments underlined Red Bull’s history of fielding two strong cars, recalling the competitive eras of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel as evidence.
Questioning the Validity of Perez’s Performance Excuses
Windsor also challenged Perez’s suggestion that a car tailored specifically to him could have changed his championship outcomes, describing such an idea as misguided. He said,
“Is that what he’s trying to say? I don’t know. But I think he’s wrong there as well,”
emphasizing a disbelief in Perez’s justification for his shortcomings within the team structure.
The Privilege of Racing for Red Bull and the Mexican Press Influence
Adding to his critical viewpoint, Windsor urged Perez to appreciate the rare opportunity he had with Red Bull during one of its most dominant periods. He stated,
“He should be saying, ‘I just can’t believe how lucky I was to be driving for Red Bull when I did,’”
encouraging a perspective of gratitude over complaint. Windsor also noted that media excitement in Mexico around Perez’s early race wins may have inflated his expectations. He explained,
“When he won a few races early on, all the Mexican press got excited about how he could win the championship and beat Max, and he believed it all!”
highlighting a gap between public perception and reality.
The Ongoing Debate Over Perez’s Legacy at Red Bull
As this intense exchange unfolds, the Formula 1 community remains divided on Sergio Perez’s portrayal of his time at Red Bull. While Perez frames his experience as fraught with challenges, voices like Peter Windsor’s argue that his performance simply did not match the team’s high standards or those of his teammate Max Verstappen. With Perez preparing for a fresh start at Cadillac, the question looms whether he can redefine his legacy or continue to be overshadowed by Verstappen’s dominance. The unfolding dynamics in the coming seasons will likely determine how history judges Perez’s role in Red Bull’s recent successes.
