Sergio "Checo" Pérez recently opened up about his time as a teammate to Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing, describing it as the most difficult role possible in Formula 1. Pérez was part of the Red Bull team for four years, a period marked by intense competition and pressure, before being released with two years remaining on his contract. For the 2025 season, he is set to race with the newly established Cadillac Formula 1 team.
"I was in the best team, but the situation was complicated," Pérez said during a podcast interview with Oswaldo Trava, which was published on YouTube. "Being Max’s teammate at Red Bull was the worst job there is in Formula 1. I understood the challenges this entailed."
Pérez elaborated on the tense environment at Red Bull, noting that his performance was under constant scrutiny relative to Verstappen’s. "If I was faster than Max, it caused problems; it created a very tense atmosphere," he said. "Conversely, if I was too slow, or even if Max was the slow one, that also became a problem." This dynamic illustrates the high-pressure setting within a team with a dominating lead driver.
During his stint at Red Bull, Pérez’s most successful campaign was the 2023 season when he finished as the championship runner-up to Verstappen. However, the following year saw Verstappen secure another title while Pérez fell to eighth in the standings, leading to his departure from the team.
Reflecting on the season and the team’s potential, Pérez expressed regret over what he perceived as a lost opportunity. "We had the best team, but unfortunately, everything was destroyed," he commented. "It was a group that could have dominated the sport for the next decade, but sadly, it all came to an end."
Looking ahead, Pérez will compete alongside experienced driver Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac, a team entering Formula 1 with ambitions to establish itself in the sport.
Since starting his Formula 1 career in 2011, Pérez has achieved solid results, with his best years marked by steadily climbing positions in the championship: fourth place in 2021, third in 2022, and second in 2023. He did not participate in the 2024 season prior to joining Cadillac.