Sergio Perez has opened up about his turbulent experience competing alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, shedding light on the internal team dynamics that he says helped shape the era of Max Verstappen Red Bull dominance. Perez discussed his time with the team, the expectations, and the significant pressures he faced, particularly as the car development increasingly favored Verstappen’s driving style.
Perez Recounts His Entry and Early Success at Red Bull
After notable stints with Force India (later Racing Point), Sauber, and McLaren, Perez joined Red Bull in 2021, bringing experience to the Milton Keynes squad. He quickly established himself as a strong supporting driver for the Dutchman Max Verstappen by securing fourth place in the 2021 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship, followed by third in 2022 and second in 2023. Despite this upward trajectory, Perez soon found himself struggling with a car that he claims was increasingly tailored to Verstappen’s strengths, making it harder for him to compete at the highest level.
Changes in Team Lineup and Ongoing Replacements
Perez’s 2024 campaign concluded with an eighth-place finish in the standings. Subsequently, Red Bull replaced him for the 2025 season with rookie Liam Lawson. However, changes continued, as Lawson’s run lasted just two race weekends before being substituted by Yuki Tsunoda. The team later announced that French driver Isack Hadjar would take over the seat for 2026, highlighting an ongoing period of transition within Red Bull’s driver roster.
Facing the Challenge of Verstappen’s Shadow
Perez shared his perspective on the internal opposition he faced, making it clear that racing for Red Bull while partnered with Max Verstappen came with unique challenges. During an appearance on the Cracks Podcast, he acknowledged the formidable nature of competing against one of Formula 1’s greatest talents while working within a structure that clearly had Verstappen at its center.
“Everyone forgot, didn’t they? When I arrived at Red Bull, I started getting results and everything, and everyone forgot how difficult it was to be in that seat. And I was very aware of what I was getting into. I arrived at Red Bull and they put you up against one of the greatest drivers in history.”
— Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing Driver
Christian Horner’s Project and Team Expectations
Perez detailed that the Red Bull hierarchy—including then-team principal Christian Horner—set out their expectations from the outset. He stated the project was fundamentally designed to support Verstappen’s quest for success, with the rest of the team playing a secondary, but essential, role.
“I knew what I was getting into,”
Perez said, adding,
“This project is built for Max. When I first sat down with Christian, he told me: ‘Look, we’re going to race with two cars because we have to race with two cars. But this project has been created for Max. Max is our talent.’ It’s like if Carlos Slim builds a team and I’m his driver, right? And you hire a Dutch guy. So it’s the same thing.”
“So that’s what I was stepping into, and I was very aware of it. I told him: ‘It doesn’t matter. In this team I’m going to develop the car, I’m going to support the car, I’m going to support the team.’”
— Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing Driver
Perez’s Performance Against Verstappen and Development Shifts
While his early time at Red Bull included moments when Perez outpaced Verstappen in simulator sessions, he described how forthcoming car updates consistently moved development toward Verstappen’s preferences. Perez noted that in 2022, an unintentionally heavy car suited his driving style, enabling him to get close to Verstappen’s performance levels. However, subsequent technical changes set him back, impacting his confidence and race results.
Struggles Intensify After Upgrades
Perez recalled that, after a competitive start in 2023—with both Perez and Verstappen trading wins over the first handful of races—further upgrades once again tipped the balance in Verstappen’s favor. He pointed to the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona as a turning point, where he suddenly found himself a second per lap slower, losing control and confidence.
“And when we get to Barcelona, from fighting at the front, I go to being a second per lap slower. I no longer had control of the car. So then all this pressure starts. All this pressure, which was very hard because, well, the one at fault is the driver, right? Because you’re not focused, because you’re doing too many commercials, or because you’re involved in other things.”
— Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing Driver
Tensions Create Further Challenges Within the Team
The Mexican driver expressed that, at Red Bull, the pressure extended beyond the racetrack. He described how his performance—whether stronger or weaker than Verstappen—often caused tension within the team, with staff quick to attribute issues directly to him regardless of circumstances.
“[The team would complain about] Everything. Practically everything. At Red Bull, everything was a problem. If I was very fast, it was a problem because it created a very tense atmosphere at Red Bull. If I was faster than Max, it was a problem. If I was slower than Max, it was a problem. So everything was a problem.”
— Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing Driver
The Implications for Future Red Bull Drivers
Perez’s candid reflections offer an inside look into the complexities faced by those sharing a team with a dominant figure like Max Verstappen at Red Bull. His comments provide context for how internal priorities and technical decisions can influence the dynamic between teammates, and the challenge for new arrivals such as Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, and Isack Hadjar in future seasons. With Red Bull’s project continuing to revolve around Verstappen, the pressure on his teammates is unlikely to ease, potentially shaping the course of the team’s future campaigns in Formula 1.
