Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull has laid bare the brutal realities of racing alongside the three-time world champion, calling the team’s system “built for one man” and revealing how the pressure nearly broke him.
What did Sergio Perez say about Max Verstappen’s Red Bull system?
Sergio Perez, who raced alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull from 2021 to 2024, told the High Performance Podcast that the team was “built around Max” from day one. Perez said team boss Christian Horner told him bluntly: “We go racing with two cars because we have to, otherwise we’d be super happy to race with one car” — or it’s all for Verstappen.
Perez recorded six wins in 48 races with Red Bull, helping the team to two constructors’ titles and Verstappen to four drivers’ crowns. Yet he admitted the pressure and internal competition became “tough periods” as success bred boredom and infighting.
How did Perez handle Verstappen’s dominance?
Perez knew what he was signing up for when he joined Red Bull in 2021. He told the podcast: “I went there with the tools I have available and I think I overdelivered in all areas.” He kept his own engineering team intact throughout his four years — something he still calls “extremely proud” of.
The Mexican’s most famous moment came at the 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, where he held up Lewis Hamilton to secure Verstappen’s first title. Verstappen later called him a “monster” for the move.
Why did Perez leave Red Bull — and why did he return?
Perez finished eighth in the 2024 drivers’ standings and left Red Bull, sitting out 2025 before returning in 2026 with Cadillac. He argued that once he was gone, Red Bull struggled to replace him: Liam Lawson lasted just two races as Verstappen’s teammate, while Yuki Tsunoda failed to match Perez’s level.
Perez said: “Only when I left and they brought in the other drivers did they realise the job I’d done for them the last four years.”
What’s next for Verstappen — and his former teammates?
Perez remains close with the Red Bull squad and Aston Martin, where he raced in 2023. He insists his gratitude and credibility matter most, even as he prepares to face Verstappen again — this time in a different team.
Asked if Verstappen would have won the 2025 title with Perez as teammate, Perez replied: “You never know.” He added that the rivalry at Red Bull remains the toughest in F1, with Verstappen surrounded by the best tools and people — something no other teammate can match.