Perez: McLaren stint, not Red Bull, was toughest F1 career chapter

Sergio Perez has revealed that the most difficult period of his Formula 1 career was not his tumultuous final seasons at Red Bull, but rather his single, challenging year with McLaren in 2013. The Mexican driver stated that the experience, coming early in his career, nearly derailed it entirely before he rebuilt his reputation at Force India.

Why it matters:

Perez’s candid reflection challenges the common narrative that his struggle to match Max Verstappen at Red Bull was his defining career hardship. Instead, it highlights how a premature move to a top team can be more damaging than the intense pressure of a championship-contending environment. His story serves as a cautionary tale about career timing and resilience in the pinnacle of motorsport.

The details:

• Perez joined McLaren for the 2013 season after a standout 2012 with Sauber, where he scored three podiums and nearly won the Malaysian Grand Prix.
• He described arriving at McLaren with excessive confidence, believing he was destined to dominate F1 after having offers from multiple top teams in only his second season.
• The reality was a difficult partnership with experienced teammate Jenson Button and a car that was uncompetitive, leading to several on and off-track flashpoints.
• The season's poor performance left him without a seat for 2014, facing an abrupt end to his F1 career after just three seasons.
• A lifeline came from Force India (now Aston Martin), where he spent seven seasons rebuilding his career before eventually securing the Red Bull drive.

The big picture:

Perez’s career arc—from nearly being out of F1 to becoming a multiple race winner for the sport’s dominant team—underscores the non-linear path many drivers face. His experience at McLaren mirrors challenges faced by other promising talents who moved to top teams too soon. His subsequent success demonstrates that recovery and long-term success are possible after a major setback, a narrative less discussed in the ‘win-or-bust’ culture of F1.

What's next:

Now looking ahead, Perez is preparing for a new chapter in the 2026 season, having signed with the new Cadillac (Andretti) team where he will partner Valtteri Bottas. This move pairs two of the grid's most experienced drivers and offers Perez a leadership role in a manufacturer-backed project aiming to establish itself in Formula 1, providing a fresh start after his Red Bull chapter concluded.