Perez Reveals Helmut Marko Paid £6,000 Psychologist Bill

Sergio Perez, reflecting on his departure from Red Bull, has revealed a telling anecdote from his time with the team, detailing how advisor Helmut Marko once settled a staggering £6,000 bill for a single psychologist session. The story, shared on a podcast, highlights the immense pressure and unique support structures within the top team, especially when a driver struggles to match the pace of teammate Max Verstappen.

Why it matters:

• It offers a rare glimpse into the intense mental pressure drivers face at a top-tier team like Red Bull, where performance is relentlessly scrutinized and solutions can be unconventional.
• The anecdote underscores the lopsided dynamic of driving alongside a generational talent like Max Verstappen, where even a seasoned driver like Perez can be made to feel inadequate after a few poor races.
• It also showcases the team's, and specifically Helmut Marko's, willingness to invest heavily in driver performance, even if it means a five-figure expense for a single hour of consultation.

The details:

• The suggestion for therapy came early in Perez's Red Bull career after a slow start to the season. Perez stated he was "completely open to it."
• The session in question was a single, one-hour phone call with an English psychologist, not a full, in-depth therapy session.
• The resulting bill was a hefty £6,000 (approx. $7,600), which Perez humorously forwarded to Marko for payment upon arriving at the factory.
• When Marko later asked how it went, Perez quipped, "Perfect... with this session, we’re already good," framing the expensive call as a successful "cure" that preceded an upturn in his results.

Between the lines:

• Perez's story, told with a dose of humor, also carries a hint of the frustration and absurdity he experienced during his time with the team.
• His prediction that other drivers (like Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda) would face similar struggles against Verstappen proved correct, suggesting the environment is as much a factor as the car itself.
• The tale serves as a poignant parting shot, framing his exit not merely on performance, but as the inevitable result of an environment where the psychological toll is as significant as the challenge on track.