Perez: Now people realise how difficult the [Red Bull] car is to drive

Perez was shown the door at Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2024 F1 season after struggling to perform alongside Verstappen, who managed to secure a fourth drivers' crown, while the team lost out to McLaren on the constructors' championship as the Mexican driver didn't manage to contribute enough points.

Fast forward a few months, and Perez's replacement, Liam Lawson, faced the same epilogue as he was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda after failing to perform after just two races.

With the current situation, it is getting clear to onlookers the extent of Perez's plight at Red Bull Racing back in 2024, and it revealed renewed interest in his services as an F1 driver, with Cadillac reportedly considering him as one of their options.

However, he will not rush into any decision; he said: “If I find a project that motivates me fully to come back, where the team believe in me and where they appreciate my career, my experience and everything I can bring to a team, it would be very attractive to consider it.

"That’s why I’ve given myself at least six months to get all my options on the table and make a decision on what I do next with my career.

“There are a few very interesting projects out there. I’ve been approached by a few teams since Abu Dhabi. Right now, the season has started so a few things will open up in the coming months.

“We are talking to a few parties out there. Once I know all my options, I will make a decision. What is very clear to me is that I’m only coming back if the project makes sense, and it’s something I can enjoy.

“I’ve spent a long time in F1 already, I’ve done most of it. Once you step back, you realise how much you give up in life to be in the sport. So, to be in F1 fully committed, I need the motivation," the 35-year-old maintained.

Perez went on: "It’s good to be in this position knowing that people are keen on you as a drive. People have short memories in F1.

“Within a couple of races, they forget what you have done. People realise that my position was not the easiest one in F1 – and I’ve done extremely well overall.

“Especially last year, I didn’t get to show what I’m able to do as a driver. Now, all of a sudden, people realise how difficult the car is to drive.

“When I joined Red Bull, there had been great drivers who had struggled—Alex [Albon], Pierre [Gasly], they are fantastic drivers and they struggled.

“I spent so long in Red Bull that everyone forgot how difficult the car is to drive, so that was tricky," Perez pointed out. “I feel like that if there is a project that makes sense to me—and also with the regulations changing for 2026—I feel like taking a year out won’t have any impact if I were to come back.”

However, Perez hopes his former team can do well and believes Tsunoda has the mental fortitude to succeed in his new job as Verstappen's teammate.

He said: "I really want the team to do well, as I have a lot of friends at the team. I spent four years with them and I want to see them doing well. It’s just a very hard thing to talk about.

“Right now, I’m on the outside, I’ve been in touch with some team members there – but when you’re not there internally, it’s hard to know [what’s happening].

“For me, it was very simple, the car is just quite difficult to get 100% out of it, to get the confidence out of it – and the things I struggled with, even Adrian [Newey, the team’s former design chief] talked about them.

“But I want to wish them the best. Woody, who is a great friend of mine, is engineering Yuki now so I really hope they do well.

“Yuki has the talent, has the speed and, more than that, you need the mentality to cope with it. I think he has the right mentality and the right attitude to cope with it. I hope they will succeed," Perez concluded.

Perez took five of his six grand prix wins with Red Bull Racing when he drove for them between 2021 and 2024. He was runner-up in the drivers' championship in 2023.

(Quotes from Formula 1's Official Website)