Sergio Perez has publicly reflected on his experience alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, revealing emotional turbulence and performance issues that led to his dismissal after the 2024 season. Perez’s perspective provides fresh insights into the Max Verstappen Red Bull struggles and the challenging dynamics within the Milton Keynes team.
Challenges Emerged After a Promising Start
Perez was brought in as Verstappen’s teammate before the 2021 Formula One season, stepping into a role many considered the “trouble spot” in Red Bull’s lineup. For two years, the Mexican driver maintained competitive form and contributed to race wins. However, after a strong start to the 2023 season, with a couple of early victories suggesting he could contend for the championship, Perez’s fortunes took a downturn. He failed to secure any further wins, while Max Verstappen dominated the season with 19 victories in 22 Grands Prix.
As the results slipped, Perez’s performance became a subject of growing scrutiny. While Verstappen’s consistent wins kept Red Bull in contention, Perez found it increasingly difficult to finish within the top five, continuing a downward trend into 2024. Despite receiving a contract extension midway through the season, the team opted to release him at year’s end, especially as McLaren overtook Red Bull to claim the Constructors’ title, even though Verstappen retained the Drivers’ Championship.
Perez Describes Internal Tensions at Red Bull
After his departure, Sergio Perez spoke candidly on the Cracks Podcast hosted by Oso Trava, addressing the dual strains of on-track performance and team dynamics. In particular, he described how technical updates to the car appeared to undermine his competitiveness, shifting blame onto him for the team’s troubles:
“Yes, of course, especially at the start of the season, but then the updates would come and it was a second slower. And the pressure starts, because who’s to blame? The driver, because you’re not focused, because you’re doing too many commercials,”
said Perez.
He further recounted the strained atmosphere when matching or exceeding Verstappen’s performance, saying:
“At Red Bull, everything was a problem. If I was faster, it was a problem, it created a very tense atmosphere; if I was slower than Max, it was a problem. I learned to accept that those were the circumstances I was in, and instead of complaining, make the most of it.”
— Sergio Perez, Former Red Bull Driver
Looking Ahead: Perez’s New Chapter with Cadillac
After sitting out the 2025 season due to all seats being filled by his dismissal, Perez’s Formula One journey finds new life with the U.S.-based Cadillac team. With the American marque’s much-anticipated F1 entry confirmed for 2026, Cadillac named Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas as their debut lineup. Near the close of 2025, the team also announced race engineer assignments: Carlo Pasetti, previously of Aston Martin, will guide Perez, while John Howard, coming from Alpine, will work with Bottas.
In support roles, Colton Herta was tapped as Cadillac’s test driver after the 2025 IndyCar season, and Zhou Guanyu was announced as reserve driver. Notably, Perez was able to get early seat time by sampling a Ferrari SF23 during off-season testing as part of Cadillac’s partnership with Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters.
The Significance of Perez’s Reflections
Perez’s candid admissions shed light on the internal pressures within Red Bull Racing and the complexities faced by drivers who challenge Max Verstappen within the team environment. His move to Cadillac marks not only a personal resurgence after a trying period, but also spotlights how new teams and established talents can reshape Formula One ahead of the 2026 season. The interplay between driver performance, intra-team dynamics, and technical development remains a pivotal factor in both individual careers and championship battles.
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