![\"Perez](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/XPB_1278580_HiRes.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSergio Perez has opened up more on his time at Red Bull. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSergio Perez has opened up more on his time at Red Bull. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n
Perez spent four seasons alongside Verstappen between 2021 and 2024, recording five grand prix wins, 26 podiums and a career-best second place in the 2023 drivers\u2019 championship.<\/p>\n However, a difficult final campaign ultimately brought his time at Red Bull to an end, with the Mexican finishing eighth in the standings after failing to place inside the top five beyond the opening six rounds.<\/p>\n Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Perez said he knew before joining Red Bull that Verstappen would be prioritised by the team.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was great. I would say it was fantastic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew I was going to Red Bull, into a project that had been built around Max over the years.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen they signed me, it was very clear. I knew what I\u2019d signed up for.\u201d<\/p>\n Perez said Christian Horner reinforced that position during his first meeting with the then-Red Bull team principal.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first time I met Christian, he told me, \u2018We go racing with two cars because we have to, you know. Otherwise, we\u2019d be super happy just to race with one car. Everything is for Max, around Max. We want to win the championship\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Perez, who has previously spoken about the difficulty of racing alongside Verstappen<\/a>, reiterated that competing against the Dutchman within his established Red Bull environment was the toughest challenge in Formula 1.<\/p>\n \u201cTo face Max at Red Bull is the toughest challenge. I mean, even to face Max at any other team would be very tough,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cBut to face him at Red Bull, with his team, his people, his surroundings, it\u2019s tough, and you need the best of the best in every area, and you just don\u2019t have that, you know.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile he has all the opportunities in terms of engineering, senior engineers, experienced engineers, everything goes to Max.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I knew that before I came, so I thought, \u2018Look, I can either complain or get on with what I have\u2019, and that\u2019s what I did.<\/p>\n \u201cThe four years I was there, I kept the same engineering team. That\u2019s something I feel extremely proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n Perez said he believed accepting his position within Red Bull allowed him to remain with the team for four seasons, despite feeling there was little opportunity to change the structure around him.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the only reason I survived there for so long is because, first of all, how I built my character. So for me it was like peanuts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing in that position and accepting it\u2026 I think you have to accept in which position you are, and you cannot overpush the system too much because they just break you. Also I was completely on my own at Red Bull.<\/p>\n \u201cIn terms of management, I felt like there was not much we could do with the system. This is what you get given and this is it.\u201d<\/p>\n While Perez felt supported to a point by Red Bull, he said the team never attempted to hide that Verstappen remained the centre of its F1 project.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt supported to a certain point. More than that, nobody was willing to do it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe team was behind me, like Christian and Helmut would be happy if I win a race. But at the end of the day, they will tell me the whole project is done for our driver and our driver is Max.<\/p>\n \u201cSo for me it was clear and I accepted that. I just tried to make the most of it.<\/p>\n Sergio Perez won five races for Red Bull. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n \u201cThere were years where I thought we are on a par, I can really give a fight \u2013 but then as soon as there were upgrades, the difference would increase quite a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Perez nevertheless believes he exceeded expectations during his four seasons at Red Bull and claimed the team only recognised his contribution after replacing him.<\/p>\n \u201cI went there with the tools available that I had to my expense. I think I overdelivered in all areas over there. It worked out perfectly,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, it turned out, there were some very tough times, very tough periods towards the end as well.<\/p>\n \u201cThe pressure and everyone internally were\u2026 We had too much success so people got bored I think and they were fighting each other and you know all the drama around.<\/p>\n \u201cBut they were [a] fantastic four years. I think I overdelivered and only once I left and they brought in all the other drivers they realised the job that I\u2019ve done for them for four years.\u201d<\/p>\n Liam Lawson initially replaced Perez for the 2025<\/a> season but was dropped after two rounds, while Yuki Tsunoda scored only 30 points after taking over the seat for the remainder of the campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"Sergio](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/XPB_1149117_HiRes.jpg\")
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