Perez’s final Red Bull criticisms explained
Six‑time winner Sergio Pérez reflects on his turbulent 2024 Red Bull exit, calling the team’s environment a problem, and looks ahead to a fresh start with Cadillac, hoping to shape his legacy.
Sergio Pérez, a six‑time winner, left Red Bull after a turbulent 2024 and was dropped for 2025. In a November interview released in January, he said Red Bull “found everything a problem” – fast laps, slow laps, even beating Max Verstappen – and called the atmosphere tense. Pérez now returns with the GM‑backed Cadillac project, hoping to end his F1 career on his own terms.
Why it matters:
Pérez’s criticism reveals how Red Bull’s single‑driver focus can marginalise a teammate, harming morale and performance. For Cadillac, securing a veteran who wants to prove himself adds credibility and may speed its climb up the grid.
The details:
- He said Red Bull complained about “almost everything” – fast laps, slow laps, even beating Max.
- Red Bull considered terminating his contract in mid‑2024; Pérez confirmed the claim in the interview.
- His top 2024 finish came in Azerbaijan after an upgraded floor let him out‑qualify Verstappen, but a clash with Carlos Sainz cost the podium.
What's next:
In 2026 Pérez teams up with Valtteri Bottas as Cadillac’s lead driver, aiming to turn a clean‑sheet car into a race winner. He says his priority is enjoying racing with his family and letting his work at Cadillac, not the Red Bull fallout, shape his legacy. Quick progress could earn him a podium and push Cadillac into the sport’s elite.