Sergio Perez Reveals Helmut Marko's £6,000/Hour 'Mental Experiment' at Red Bull

Sergio Perez has revealed the extraordinary lengths Helmut Marko went to in an effort to unlock his performance during his early Red Bull struggles, disclosing that the team advisor hired a psychologist at a staggering cost of £6,000 per hour. The intervention coincided with a turnaround in Perez's 2021 season, but the astronomical price tag and the eventual inability to solve later performance issues highlight the immense pressure and unconventional methods at the top of Formula 1.

Why it matters:

This story offers a rare peek behind the curtain at a top-tier F1 team, showcasing the extreme psychological pressure placed on drivers and the unconventional solutions management will pursue. It underscores the win-at-all-costs mentality at Red Bull and adds a bizarre, final chapter to the complex narrative of Perez's turbulent tenure with the team.

The details:

• The Initial Struggle: After joining Red Bull in 2021 as Max Verstappen's teammate, Perez failed to secure a podium in the first five races, prompting concern from team management.
• Marko's Intervention: According to Perez, Marko immediately suggested he needed a psychologist, arranging a session with a high-profile English mental coach. Perez was open to the idea.
• Immediate Success: The move appeared to pay off. Perez won his first race for the team at the sixth round in Baku and went on to secure five total podiums that season, including a crucial defensive drive against Lewis Hamilton in the Abu Dhabi finale.
• The Shocking Bill: The bizarre element emerged when Perez received an invoice. He recounted being told, "There's a bill for you—for six thousand pounds." The fee was for a single phone call, a cost he said "haunted" him for years. He was instructed to forward the bill directly to Marko for payment.
• The Ultimate Limitation: Despite the early success, the psychological support couldn't fix later issues. In 2023, Perez's form plummeted due to a car with unpredictable handling. He admitted, "you can't be fast in a car where you're thinking about which corner you're going to crash in."

What's next:

The costly mental experiment ultimately couldn't save Perez's seat. Red Bull terminated his contract at the end of 2024, a year early. After a brief hiatus, Perez is now preparing for a comeback with the new Cadillac F1 team in 2026, seeking a fresh start away from the intense pressure cooker of Milton Keynes.