Perez Reveals Red Bull's £6,000 Psychology Bill

Sergio Perez has revealed a staggering anecdote from his early days at Red Bull, where the team paid £6,000 for a single therapy session to address his initial struggles. Recounting the story on a podcast, Perez explained the team suggested a psychologist when his results didn't immediately meet expectations, leading to a bizarrely expensive phone call that he jokingly told advisor Helmut Marko had solved all his problems.

Why it matters:

This story goes beyond a humorous anecdote, offering a rare glimpse into the immense psychological pressure cooker at a top-tier F1 team. It highlights Red Bull's win-at-all-costs mentality and how quickly a driver can be singled out when performance falters, even when the issues may be technical. Perez's subsequent, more serious struggles also underscore the fine line between providing mental support and overlooking fundamental problems within the team or the car.

The details:

• The Initial Suggestion: After joining Red Bull in 2021, Perez's early performances prompted the team to tell him, "What you need is a psychologist."
• The Staggering Bill: Perez followed the advice and was presented with a £6,000 invoice for a single therapy session, a cost he found so absurd he laughed it off and forwarded it to Helmut Marko.
• The Quick Fix: When Marko asked how it went, Perez quipped, "Perfect, with this session we're all set." He credits this "cure" for turning his form around, leading to three successful years as a reliable wingman to Max Verstappen.
• The Darker Reality: Perez contrasted this with his 2024 season, where he admitted he genuinely felt he needed help as his form collapsed. However, he insisted the core issue was not psychological.
• The Real Problem: "Deep down I knew perfectly well that when you have a car where you're thinking about... in which corner you’re going to crash, you can’t go fast," he explained, adding that feeling like "your whole team is against you" made the situation untenable.

What's next:

Following his departure from Red Bull at the end of 2024, Perez took a sabbatical in 2025 to reset. Now, the 36-year-old is preparing for a fresh start with the Cadillac project set to join the grid in 2026. He returns with a wealth of experience and a unique perspective on the intense pressures of the sport, ready to prove his worth in a new environment.