A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
Sergio Perez has offered a brutal assessment of life inside Red Bull, insisting that “no driver can survive” in the seat alongside Max Verstappen.
The minute I signed my exit with Red Bull, when we came to an agreement, I thought, ‘That poor guy who comes here.- Sergio Perez
Reflecting on his own turbulent spell with the team, Perez said the challenge goes far beyond raw pace. He joined Red Bull in 2021 and, despite finishing runner-up to Verstappen in 2023, his performances dipped the following year a slump that ended with his departure.
Red Bull’s revolving door since has only reinforced his point. Liam Lawson was drafted in but lasted just two races before being replaced by Yuki Tsunoda, who has also battled to find form.
Ahead of his 2026 comeback with Cadillac, Perez said he feels nothing but sympathy for those who’ve followed him into what he calls an unforgiving environment.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I don’t like criticising the drivers that are there, because I was in that position,” he told Sky F1. “I know exactly what they’re going through. The minute I signed my exit with Red Bull, when we came to an agreement, I thought, ‘That poor guy who comes here.’”
Racing Bulls' star rookie Isack Hadjar is reportedly being lined up for a promotion, but Perez's remarks seem to hang like a warning sign against the move, suggesting the Red Bull seat beside Verstappen has become a career trap.
“It’s a very difficult place,” he explained. “Obviously, being next to Max is very difficult, but being next to Max in Red Bull, it’s something people don’t understand.
“There are so many things that I could tell you, but it’s simply a very difficult job for a driver. There is no driver that can survive there. It doesn’t matter if you bring [Lewis] Hamilton or [Charles] Leclerc, whoever you bring there is going to struggle massively.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Verstappen struggles in Mexico
Throughout the Mexico GP weekend Verstappen has struggled with low grip related issues, which eventually saw him qualify in P5 a long way away from title rival Lando Norris' pole position time.
His RB21's behaviour and lack of performance prompted Verstappen's bleak forecast for the Grand Prix. You can read his full comments here.
Check out GPblog's latest F1 Paddock Update
Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on Google
