Sergio Pérez has characterized his last six months at Red Bull as “toxic,” revealing that the resounding success of the Milton Keynes team generated internal tensions and conflicts.
The Mexican driver, who spent four seasons with Max Verstappen at Red Bull, contributed to an era of dominance for the team. However, in a recent appearance on the podcast High Performance, Pérez explained the psychological weight that the last months as Red Bull’s second driver had on him.
“My last six months at Red Bull were very difficult, even for me, who feels mentally strong,” he shared. “They were very, very tough, and I would say toxic. I really wanted to take a break, so the year away from F1 came at the right time.”
Pérez was replaced by Liam Lawson in 2025, who raced in the first two races of the season before being replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. During his time at the team, Red Bull achieved two Constructors’ Championships in 2022 and 2023, while Verstappen won four consecutive Drivers’ titles.
“The internal pressure was intense… we had too much success. This caused people to buckle and fight against each other, but it was four fantastic years,” he added.
Pérez confessed that he was unsure if he would return to Formula 1 after his time with Red Bull. “At the moment of leaving, I thought it could be the last. I was prepared for that. I’m very grateful, I wouldn’t go back to the pressure at any cost.”
Finally, Pérez has signed with Cadillac Racing, the team that debuts in the championship this 2026, alongside former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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