Background on Checo Pérez and Max Verstappen
Checo Pérez, a renowned Mexican Formula 1 driver, recently shared insights into his time at Red Bull Racing, highlighting the challenges he faced while being a teammate to Max Verstappen.
Red Bull Racing: Pérez’s Peak and Verstappen’s Favored Status
Red Bull Racing marked the pinnacle of Checo Pérez’s Formula 1 career. Despite debuting in the sport in 2011, Pérez achieved his best results after joining Red Bull: third place in the 2022 season and second in 2023, securing two World Drivers’ Championship titles between 2021 and 2024.
Max Verstappen, however, was Red Bull’s golden boy. Nurtured in their academies, Verstappen consistently appeared on the podium of the World Drivers’ Championship since 2019, with Pérez sharing glory by winning four titles during that period.
Pérez’s Struggles and Team Dynamics
In a recent interview with podcaster Oswaldo Trava, Pérez detailed the difficulties he encountered during his time at Red Bull from 2021 to 2024.
“In Red Bull, everything was a problem,” Pérez said, referring to the constant favoritism shown towards Verstappen.
“In 2022, I remember being faster than Max in the simulator. Going into weekends, I was thinking about winning the race automatically, focusing on how to handle the car and what might happen. Our car wasn’t perhaps suited to Max’s style, and I started competing with him until the improvements came. That’s when there was a clear direction that the team wanted to take, and that’s when I started facing problems.”
Pérez’s Departure and Reflections
After a year-long sabbatical, Pérez is set to return to Formula 1 in 2026. He parted ways with Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season and did not join any team in 2025.
Pérez expressed that being Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull was “the worst job in Formula 1.” He revealed that team principal Christian Horner informed him from day one that Verstappen was the favored driver.
“I knew what I was getting into. This project was built for Max. When I first sat down with Christian, he said, ‘We’re going to run two cars because we have to, but this project was made for Max, who is our star talent.’ It’s like Carlos Slim creating a team, I’m the driver, and they hire a Dutchman (sic).”
Despite this, Pérez remained committed to growing alongside the team and supporting their results.
“I also learned a lot. I understood the circumstances and realized that instead of complaining, I needed to perform better and make the most of the situation. I even sought help from a psychologist at the beginning of my Red Bull tenure because the pressure became overwhelming, not just internally.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What challenges did Checo Pérez face at Red Bull? Pérez described constant favoritism towards his teammate Max Verstappen, which led to difficulties in handling the car and increased pressure.
- Why did Pérez consider his time at Red Bull as the worst in Formula 1? He felt that the team’s clear preference for Verstappen created a tense environment, making it challenging to perform at his best.
- How did Pérez cope with the pressure? He sought help from a psychologist and focused on improving his performance instead of complaining.
- What are Pérez’s plans for the future? After a sabbatical year, Pérez will return to Formula 1 in 2026, joining forces with Valtteri Bottas in the new Cadillac team.
