Perez: No driver can survive at Red Bull alongside Verstappen

Perez was let go by Red Bull at the end of the 2024 F1 season after struggling to perform alongside Verstappen in a Red Bull car that was becoming harder to drive with every upgrade and which, at some point, the Dutchman himself had to use all his talent to keep in check.

Liam Lawson replaced Perez in 2025 but lasted two races, only to be replaced by Yuki Tsunoda from the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix onwards, and while he is still with Red Bull Racing, Tsunoda has been comprehensively trounced by Verstappen, becoming the latest in a series of teammates to be destroyed by the four-time F1 Champion.

How the driver situation developed at Red Bull Racing in 2025, with Isack Hadjar now tipped to replace Tsunoda in 2026, has redeemed Perez, who is now gearing up for his new gig with Cadillac F1 Team in 2026.

Reflecting on the matter, the Mexican said: "I don't like criticizing drivers that have been there because I was in that position, and I know exactly what they are going through.

"The minute I signed my exit from Red Bull, when we came to an agreement, I knew, 'Poor guy, who comes here, it's a very difficult place'.

"Being next to Max is very difficult, but being next to Max in Red Bull is something people don't understand. There are so many things I could tell you, but it is simply a very difficult job for a driver.

"No driver can survive there. It doesn't matter if you bring Hamilton, Leclerc. Whoever you bring there is going to struggle massively," Perez boldly claimed.

Since he joined Red Bull Racing back in 2016 and won his debut race with them, the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen has turned the Milton Keynes squad into his own team, who cater to his specific needs, which you can't hold against the team or the driver himself, who has proven to be a generational talent in F1.

"It's a very unique driving style," Perez went on explaining. "You have to constantly be adapting to the needs of Max. It's as simple as that."

Verstappen is currently launching an attack on McLaren rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to try and defend his F1 Drivers' Crown and secure a consecutive fifth after recent upgrades transformed the Red Bull RB21 into a good enough car for him to challenge for wins.

In a season where McLaren have dominated, securing the F1 Drivers' Championship over the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, Perez believes Verstappen is currently the reason why fans tune in to watch F1.

He said: "Max has been the action of the year. He's keeping everyone watching F1. Somehow, they have transformed the season, and with McLaren messing around, he has a chance of getting it done.

"I think he's the driver who deserves the championship the most because he's been driving phenomenally," Perez concluded.

Verstappen is currently 36 points behind Championship leader Norris, with four races remaining.

(Quotes from Sky Sports F1)