![\"Perez](\"https:\/\/speedcafe.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/XPB_1272994_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSergio Perez has called being Max Verstappen’s teammate ‘the worst job in F1’. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSergio Perez has called being Max Verstappen’s teammate ‘the worst job in F1’. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
Speaking on Mexican entrepreneur Oso Trava\u2019s Cracks podcast ahead of his 2026 return with Cadillac, Perez reflected on four turbulent seasons at Red Bull.<\/p>\n
That tenure ended with his release at the end of 2024, despite finishing second in the world championship just a year earlier.<\/p>\n
He said the environment left him in an impossible position.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was on the best team, but it was complicated because just being Max\u2019s teammate is extremely difficult, but being Max\u2019s teammate at Red Bull is the worst job there is in F1, by far,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\n
Perez explained that his performance was scrutinised regardless of the outcome, creating a constant sense of tension within the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Red Bull, everything was a problem. If I was faster than Max, it created a very tense atmosphere; it was a problem if you were faster than Max,\u201d said Perez.<\/p>\n
\u201cConversely, if you were too slow and Max was slow, then everything was also a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Mexican said the pressure only intensified as Red Bull\u2019s development direction increasingly suited Verstappen, particularly during the ground-effect era, leaving him vulnerable as results dipped.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll this pressure starts, which was very hard, because, well, who is to blame? The driver,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you\u2019re not focused, because you\u2019re doing a lot of commercials or because you\u2019re doing other things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among the most striking revelations in the interview was Perez\u2019s account of being pushed towards psychological help early in his Red Bull tenure after a run of poor results.<\/p>\n
He said the suggestion came quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as I arrived at Red Bull, in the first races when I didn\u2019t get results, [they told me]: \u2018What you need is a psychologist. You have to see a psychologist\u2019,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was open to everything, of course. So I talk to the psychologist and say: \u2018Hey, call me Sergio Perez\u2019, \u2018blah blah blah\u2019 from an English guy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI say: \u2018Hey, today I don\u2019t have time for a session, but let\u2019s talk, look for a time. Perfect.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The episode took an unexpected turn when the bill arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd one day he arrives at the Red Bull factory and says: \u2018Hey, there\u2019s a bill for you\u2019 \u2013 for six thousand pounds from the psychologist. \u2018Can you send it to Helmut, please? He\u2019ll pay it\u2019,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was six thousand pounds for one call!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo Helmut says: \u2018Hey, how did it go with\u2026? Perfect, with this session we\u2019re good\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Perez said results eventually improved, but the pressure never truly eased, particularly in his final two seasons, when he believes upgrades and focus were increasingly directed towards Verstappen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe upgrades continued, but everything was for Max,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, from then on, I was already two, three races, four races, five races behind, and I never had that car again. What would have happened? Who knows?\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the bitter ending, Perez said he regrets how Red Bull ultimately unravelled, believing the team had the potential for long-term dominance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had the best team, but unfortunately, everything was destroyed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we had the team to dominate the sport for the next 10 years, but unfortunately, it all ended.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/285249.gif\")