Sergio Pérez has described his last six months with Red Bull as “toxic”, revealing how the monumental success of the Milton Keynes team led to internal friction and tensions.
The Mexican driver, who significantly contributed to a dominant era for the team during his four seasons alongside Max Verstappen, has shared his experiences after his return to competition with Cadillac Racing.
In a recent appearance on the High Performance podcast, Pérez talked about the psychological toll of his last months with the team. “My last six months at Red Bull were very hard, even for me when I feel mentally strong,” he commented. “They were very, very difficult, and I would say toxic, and I really wanted a break. The sabbatical came at the perfect time.”
At the start of the 2025 season, Pérez was replaced by Liam Lawson, who raced with Verstappen for two races before Yuki Tsunoda took over his place, returning Lawson to Racing Bulls.
During his tenure at Red Bull, the team achieved two constructors’ championship wins in 2022 and 2023, while Verstappen secured four consecutive drivers’ titles.
Pérez admitted he was unsure if he would return to Formula 1 after his time with Red Bull, stating: “At that moment, I didn’t know if I wanted to come back. When I left Formula 1, I really thought it could be the end, and I was ready for that. I’m very grateful, I wouldn’t come back at any cost.”
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
