Sergio Perez, who is set to return to the paddock with Cadillac in 2026, recently expressed sharp criticisms about his experience as a teammate to Max Verstappen at Red Bull between 2021 and 2024. Despite securing five Grand Prix wins with the team based in Milton Keynes, Perez ended his stint trailing Verstappen by a significant 285 points during his final season. He suggested on the Crack podcast that Red Bull operated essentially as a single-car team, designed primarily to support Verstappen’s success rather than developing both drivers equally.
He explained his experience, stating,
“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.”
Windsor Responds to Perez’s Assertions
In response, Windsor strongly challenged Perez’s perspective, labeling him as “the perfect victim” who lacks any credible basis for these claims. Speaking on the Cameron CC podcast, the Briton argued that Perez was never competitive enough to contend seriously with Verstappen or even maintain a seat at a dominant team like Red Bull. Windsor emphasized that a driver of greater caliber, such as Charles Leclerc, would have been a formidable rival alongside Verstappen during the past several years.
He asserted,
“I think 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,”
and added,
“He might even have won a championship against Max. That’s not to say he’s as good as Max right now, but if you had a class driver in the other car, of course he’d be very near Max.”
Windsor further noted Red Bull’s proven ability to operate two competitive cars, citing earlier line-ups with Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. He dismissed Perez’s narrative as an attempt to excuse his lack of pace compared to Verstappen, explaining,
Image of: Charles Leclerc
“So it’s all nonsense and it’s all Perez trying to justify not being as quick as Max and basically saying ‘if they had built the car around me I would have won four world championships and Max would have been nowhere. Is that what he’s trying to say? I don’t know. But I think he’s wrong there as well.”
Critique of Perez’s Gratitude and Legacy at Red Bull
Windsor was blunt in his evaluation of Perez’s performance and attitude, insisting that the Mexican driver should be more appreciative of the opportunities he received at Red Bull. Despite a relatively modest tally, including his notable victory at the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix, Windsor argued Perez benefited greatly from being part of a top-tier team during its “golden days.”
He said,
“Well above his talent level probably he won grands prix, he should be saying ‘I just can’t believe how lucky I was to be driving for Red Bull when I did, I was so happy to be there, what a great team, I was there for the golden days with Jonathan Wheatley and Christian [Horner] and Adrian [Newey]’,”
and added,
“Why is he not saying that? Saying thank you very much Red Bull for those grand prix wins.”
Windsor also suggested Perez was influenced by exaggerated praise from the Mexican media, which led to unrealistic expectations about his championship potential.
He continued,
“It’s the same old story. When he won a few races early on and all the Mexican press got excited about how he could win the championship and beat Max, and he believed it all!,
and
“Of course the press are going to say that, because that’s what they do. But for Perez to believe it all, and he’s believing it all now I guess. It’s ridiculous.”
Implications for Red Bull and Driver Dynamics Moving Forward
These exchanges highlight ongoing tensions surrounding Red Bull’s internal dynamics and driver hierarchies, casting doubt on Perez’s place among elite-level title contenders. The criticism from Windsor underscores the challenges Perez faced in matching Verstappen’s level and suggests that Red Bull’s decision to prioritize Verstappen was both strategic and justified. Meanwhile, references to drivers like Charles Leclerc illustrate the high standards that exist within Formula 1’s top teams.
With Perez’s forthcoming return to racing under Cadillac, attention will shift to how he performs outside the shadow of Verstappen and in a new environment. This controversy may also influence how teams evaluate driver pairings in dominant outfits like Red Bull, particularly regarding balancing talent and team objectives.
