Surviving as Verstappen’s F1 Teammate: Formula 1’s Toughest Challenge

Being Verstappen’s teammate is “the worst job in Formula 1” says Perez

“Being his teammate at Red Bull is the worst job in Formula 1, by far.”

Sergio Perez didn’t mince words when describing his four seasons alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. The Mexican driver recently opened up about the challenges of being in the shadow of the four-time world champion.

Perez joined Red Bull in 2021, replacing Alexander Albon. After finishing eighth in the standings during the 2024 campaign, the team let him go, bringing in Liam Lawson instead.

Speaking on the Cracks Podcast, Perez shared what it was really like working with Verstappen.

“I was on the best team, a complicated team,” he explained. “Being Max’s teammate is already very difficult, but being his teammate at Red Bull is the worst job in Formula 1, by far.”

He believes people forgot just how tough the job was because of Verstappen’s incredible results. It’s worth noting that since Perez’s departure, Red Bull has already replaced two drivers who followed in his footsteps – Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.

## ‘The Red Bull car was made for Verstappen’

When Perez signed with the team, he says former team principal Christian Horner was completely upfront with him about his role.

“I knew what I was getting into at Red Bull. When I sat down with Christian, he told me, ‘We’re going to run two cars because we have to, but this project was created for Max; he’s our talent.’ I was very aware of that.”

Perez wasn’t deterred. “I told him, ‘It doesn’t matter,’ I’m going to develop the car, I’m going to support the team.”

According to Perez, he actually matched Verstappen’s pace during the early parts of both the 2022 and 2023 seasons. This was especially true at the start of the ground-effect era, when the weight distribution suited his driving style better.

That competitive balance didn’t last long.

“Then the pressure started,” Perez explained. “Because who’s to blame? The driver, because you’re not focused, because you’re doing too many commercials.”

The environment at Red Bull became increasingly difficult for him to navigate.

“The team complained about everything. At Red Bull, everything was a problem. If I was faster, it was a problem, it created a very tense atmosphere; if I was slower than Max, it was a problem.”

Rather than fighting the system, Perez tried to adapt. “I learned that those were the circumstances I was in, and instead of complaining, I tried to make the best of it.”

2025 marks a fresh start for ‘Checo’ as he returns to Formula 1 with Cadillac.

## Check out the latest episode of GPblog’s F1 Paddock Update!

Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? 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.

Don’t forget to follow us on Spotify as well!