Sergio Perez has reflected on his difficulties at Red Bull, driving alongside four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, arguing that even Lewis Hamilton would struggle in the role.
The Mexican driver is set to return to the championship in 2026 with Cadillac after parting with the Milton Keynes outfit at the end of 2024. Red Bull has struggled to find a second driver who is able to extract the same level of performance out of the car as Verstappen.
Perez was replaced for the start of the 2025 season by Liam Lawson, who was later replaced by Yuki Tsunoda after just two race weekends.
“I don’t like to criticise the drivers, because I was in that position. I know exactly what they’re going through," Perez told Sky Sports F1 during the Mexico Grand Prix weekend.
"The minute I signed my exit with Red Bull when we came to an agreement, I knew that ‘poor guy who comes here’, because I managed to survive. It’s a very difficult place.
"Obviously, being next to Max is very difficult. But being next to Max in Red Bull, it’s something that people don’t understand. There are so many things I could tell you about it but, simply, it’s just a very difficult job for a driver."
The 35-year-old claimed that even seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton would "struggle massively" in the role.
"There is no driver who could survive there. It doesn’t matter if you bring Hamilton or Leclerc, or whoever you bring, they are going to struggle massively," he added.
"As a driver, it is really difficult because you have to think all the time [about] how to drive it. When you’re thinking all the time [about] how to drive the car, you know what happens.”
With five race weekends remaining in the season, including the Mexico Grand Prix, Verstappen has scored 306 of Red Bull's total of 331 points. The Dutchman is fighting for the championship against the McLaren drivers, sitting 40 points behind the championship leader Oscar Piastri and 26 points behind Lando Norris in second.
Red Bull currently sits fourth in the constructors' standings.
Photos from Mexican GP - Practice & Qualifying
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
Mexican GP - Saturday, in photos
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