For most Formula One drivers, the checkered flag signals the end of the tension. For Sergio “Checo” Pérez, however, that burden did not disappear when he crossed the finish line. The Mexican driver, who will return to F1 in 2026 with Cadillac, offered a blunt portrait of what it meant to share a garage with Max Verstappen at Red Bull, insisting that there is no more thankless job in the pinnacle of motorsport.
“I was on the best team, a complicated team, because being Max’s teammate at Red Bull is very difficult, but being Max’s teammate at Red Bull is the worst job there is in Formula One, by far,” Pérez said in an interview on Osvaldo Trava’s Cracks podcast.
From day one, Pérez understood the ground he was stepping onto. The project, he explained, had a clear name attached to it.
“I knew what I was getting into; this project is built for Max. When I sit down for the first time with Christian (Horner), he tells me, ‘Look, we’re going to race with two cars because we have to race with two cars, but this project has been created for Max. Max is our talent,’” he explained.
Pérez arrived in Milton Keynes with solid credentials after stints at Sauber, McLaren, Force India and Racing Point, but his most scrutinized chapter came alongside Verstappen, where every lap was examined and every result carried weight. He raced for Red Bull from 2021 through 2024. His best season came in 2023, when he finished runner-up. In 2024, Verstappen claimed another title, while Pérez ended the year eighth, a result that led to his departure.
Life inside the team, according to Pérez, was never simple.
“Everything — practically everything — at Red Bull was a problem. If I was very fast, it was a problem because it created a very tense environment. If I was faster than Max, it was a problem. If I was slower than Max, it was a problem,” he said.
The overall assessment of the project, even amid on-track dominance, left a bitter taste.
“We had the best team. Unfortunately, everything was destroyed,” Pérez said. “We had the team to have dominated the sport for the next 10 years, I think, and unfortunately it all ended.”
When speaking about Verstappen, the Mexican driver offered nuance. He acknowledged his mental strength and conviction, but also drew a line. He described him as “mentally strong, with tremendous confidence in himself,” while adding, “I think the downside is his character—when things go against him, he struggles a lot to deal with it.”
Even so, Pérez closed the chapter with gratitude.
“When what happened at Red Bull happened, obviously I felt sad, but deep down I knew it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was very much at peace with myself because I gave everything to the team, and Red Bull gave everything to me, and I think they’re grateful that I was part of their team just as I’m grateful to have been part of Red Bull,” he said.
After taking 2025 as a sabbatical year, Pérez is preparing for a new beginning with Cadillac F1, where he will be teammates with Valtteri Bottas. Away from the paddock, he has also shown his human side: Although he said he does not consider himself active on social media, he recently posted a message on his Instagram stories showing support for Venezuela amid the country’s political crisis.
“Venezuelan brothers and sisters, I send you a big hug with lots of affection, an example that faith is never lost. My prayers are with you. Free Venezuela!”