Sergio Perez has provided a candid perspective on the unique pressures and challenges encountered by anyone stepping into the role of Max Verstappen‘s team-mate, highlighting the dynamics within Red Bull Racing. The partnership, at the center of F1 headlines between 2021 and 2024, saw both drivers propel the team to great success, but it also revealed a demanding environment for Verstappen’s supporting driver.
Inside the Red Bull Partnership
From 2021 through 2024, Red Bull’s driver lineup consisted of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, a pairing that brought two constructors’ championships to the team. Throughout their time together, Perez largely took on the role of supporting Verstappen, maintaining harmony on track and embracing the team’s competitive hierarchy. This cooperative dynamic helped Verstappen secure four drivers’ titles during these years, contributing to a period of dominance for Red Bull.
However, by 2024, the stability of Perez’s position began to waver. While Verstappen continued collecting wins, Perez’s contribution that year—152 points out of Red Bull’s impressive 589—fell short of expectations. As a result, the team made the difficult decision to release Perez ahead of the 2025 season, leaving him without a guaranteed spot on the F1 grid.
Perez Opens Up on the Demands and Pressures
Reflecting on his experience at Red Bull, Perez described the mix of triumphant moments and harsh setbacks he faced. He spoke of how quickly fortunes can change in Formula 1, emphasizing that highs and lows are fleeting in both racing and life. Perez’s reflections provided insight into the inner workings of the team and the personal toll that comes with the role:
“We had the team to dominate the sport for the next 10 years, I think. And unfortunately, it’s all over now, but I was in the best team, in a complicated team.”
— Sergio Perez, Red Bull Driver
Perez further explained that being a team-mate to Verstappen is inherently challenging, particularly within the high-pressure environment of Red Bull. According to him, the expectations and comparisons can make the position overwhelmingly difficult:
“Just being Max’s team-mate is very difficult, but being Max’s team-mate at Red Bull is the best and the worst job there is in Formula 1, by far,”
said Sergio Perez, Red Bull Driver.
The Mexican driver also noted how easy it is for observers to underestimate the challenges of the role. He expressed that initial successes often make people forget just how demanding it is to partner with Verstappen:
“And well, everyone forgot, didn’t they? When I arrived at Red Bull, I started getting results, and everyone forgot how difficult it was to be in that seat, right? And I was very aware of what I was getting into.”
— Sergio Perez, Red Bull Driver
The Future for Red Bull and its Drivers
Perez’s departure marks a significant shift for Red Bull Racing, raising questions about the team’s future direction and the responsibilities that will face Verstappen’s next partner. The nature of performance expectations within a top team like Red Bull ensures that whoever steps into the second seat will inevitably face both immense opportunity and significant scrutiny.
Perez’s revelations have illuminated the rarely seen emotional and mental landscape of being a Max Verstappen team-mate, underlining the balance required to succeed in such a competitive environment. As Red Bull prepares for the next chapter in its racing story, the experiences Perez described serve as a clear reminder: in Formula 1, being second to a star like Verstappen is a job filled with as many obstacles as rewards.
