Sergio Perez has opened up about what it’s like to be part of the Red Bull team and shared some candid thoughts on sharing a garage with Max Verstappen. Reflecting on his four years alongside the Dutch driver, Perez noted that the dynamics within the team were evident right from the start, “everything goes to Max.” The Mexican racer, who was with Red Bull from 2021 until 2024 before parting ways ahead of the 2025 season, described being Verstappen’s teammate as one of the toughest jobs in Formula 1. Even with the challenges, Perez mentioned that he embraced the situation early on and concentrated on making the most of the opportunities that came his way.
Perez explained that competing against Verstappen at Red Bull meant more than simply matching his speed on track, as he said, “While he has all the opportunities in terms of engineering, senior engineers, experienced engineers, everything goes to Max. But I knew that before I came, so I thought, ‘Look, I can either complain or get on with what I have,’ and that’s what I did. The four years I was there, I kept the same engineering team. That’s something I feel extremely proud of.”
How Red Bull’s Max Verstappen-Centred Approach Shaped Sergio Perez’s Four-Year Spell
According to Perez, Red Bull has always been upfront about its priorities. He remembers being told by team boss Christian Horner during their initial talks that the program was all about winning championships, with Verstappen at the forefront. Perez joined the team fully aware of this dynamic and never expected to be treated as an equal within the organization.
This understanding influenced how he approached his role during Red Bull’s peak years. Perez notched up five race wins with the team and played a crucial supporting role in their championship victories in 2021, 2022, and 2023. However, his challenging 2024 season led to Red Bull losing the constructors’ title to McLaren, and ultimately, he lost his seat as well.
Despite that, Perez feels he exceeded expectations. He noted that as success became more routine, the pressure within the team intensified, and tensions rose in the later years. Still, he looks back on that time fondly, believing that Red Bull only truly recognized his contributions after experimenting with other drivers in the second seat. Perez emphasized that accepting his role within the team was vital for his longevity. He suggested that pushing too hard against the established order could quickly backfire for a driver. Now, as he prepares to return to the Formula 1 grid with Cadillac in 2026, Perez has shared some of the clearest insights into the challenges of racing alongside Verstappen during Red Bull’s era of dominance.
