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In a revealing new interview, Sergio Pérez has broken his silence on the driving complexities associated with the Red Bull Formula 1 car — complexities that, he believes, have long been underestimated by fans and pundits alike.
While the Mexican driver avoided overt criticism, his remarks subtly paint a picture of a car that, despite its undeniable pace, has consistently challenged even the most skilled drivers on the grid — including those who came before and after him.
Red Bull’s Second Seat: A Continual Struggle
Pérez, who spent four seasons at Red Bull Racing, pointed to a recurring issue the team has struggled to solve — the second seat. A string of talented drivers, from Pierre Gasly to Alex Albon, have cycled through without finding stability alongside Max Verstappen.
“When I came to Red Bull, great drivers were already struggling with it,” Pérez said. “Alex, Pierre – they are fantastic drivers and they were struggling.”
His comments serve as a reminder that the Red Bull car, while dominant in terms of raw speed and performance, may be heavily tailored to Verstappen’s distinct style — a factor that has left others unable to unlock its full potential.
Pérez on His Own Battles: “It wasn’t easy”
Reflecting on his own time with the team, Pérez admitted that even during his tenure, he was not always able to perform at the level he wanted.
“Especially last year, I wasn’t able to show what I’m capable of as a driver,” he revealed. “Now you suddenly realize how difficult the car is to drive.”
He added that the public perception of Red Bull’s car being easy to handle is misleading — a misconception that grew during his time at the team.
“I was at Red Bull for so long that everyone forgot how difficult the car is to drive, so it wasn’t easy.”
Lawson’s Struggles Add Fuel to the Fire
Pérez’s reflections come at a significant moment. Red Bull recently moved Liam Lawson back to their junior outfit, Racing Bulls, just two races into the 2025 season. The official reasoning? Lawson faced major difficulties adjusting to the demands of the car.
The swift reshuffle underscores Pérez’s point — even highly rated drivers are finding it nearly impossible to match Verstappen in identical machinery. It’s a pattern Red Bull seems unable to break, despite consistent success in the Constructors' Championship.
Verstappen’s Shadow: Car Development and Setup Bias?
Though never stated outright, Pérez’s comments allude to a longstanding belief in the paddock: the Red Bull chassis development heavily favors Verstappen's preferences. The team’s focus on maximizing the reigning champion’s strengths may be inadvertently creating a steep learning curve for anyone else stepping into the second seat.
“It’s just a very difficult situation to talk about,” Pérez admitted.
Tsunoda Steps Up: New Chapter Begins
“I really want the team to be successful because I have a lot of friends there,” he said. “I was there for four years and I wish them all the best.”
While he acknowledged being on the outside looking in — “At the moment I’m on the outside. I’m in contact with some of the team members, but when you’re not inside it’s hard to know exactly what’s going on” — Pérez still has faith in Tsunoda’s abilities.
“Woody, a good friend of mine, is Yuki’s engineer now, so I really hope they succeed. Yuki has the talent, the speed and, more importantly, the mental strength to do it. I hope they succeed.”
