Sergio Perez has revealed why it is so difficult to drive for Red Bull Racing, as the Mexican is set to return to the F1 grid in 2026 with Cadillac.
The 35-year-old drove alongside reigning world champion Max Verstappen for four seasons but was ultimately dropped after poor performances in comparison to the Dutchman.
The Mexican has now spent a year out of F1, but is set to return with the new team, Cadillac. The American outfit will be the 11th team on the grid as the manufacturer of the regulations change for all cars next year.
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Before his return to the sport, Perez has revealed why he struggled so much at Red Bull, and why the same fate has befallen every driver after him.
Sergio Perez struggled to drive to Max Verstappen's style at Red Bull
|PA
He revealed: “It's just a very unique driving style. Sometimes I could cope with it, I could adapt to it, but as soon as there was a variable with the rain, with the wind or something, it just became undriveable. And then you start making mistakes one after the other. You still lose, you are losing confidence.
“But mentally I was super strong and that's why I survived there for so long, you know, because I did have a lot of pressure and a lot of you guys were onto me and now you realise that the job I've done in that car and that team."
Since he was removed from the seat, both Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have taken up the role of second driver at Red Bull, with both struggling to make an impact.
Lawson was dropped after just two races, and Tsunoda sits 17th in the championship, having yet to score a point for the main team.
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Sergio Perez believes the issues within the team run deeper then the drivers
|GETTY
When asked why he thinks his replacements have struggled, the Cadillac driver revealed: “I think, you know, it's just the whole dynamics of the team, you know, everything is driven, obviously they have a unique talent over there with Max and everything is yeah, when you get there, the development curve they have, it's very difficult for the second driver that is there to basically adapt to the car."
Perez has not done any racing since leaving the Red Bull seat in December last year. While other drivers choose to spend time behind the wheel, the Mexican has chosen to spend his time resting and preparing for 2026.
He continued: “As you can imagine this year has been a lot better than the previous year, so I'm sure I look a bit fresher in that regard.
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Sergio Perez had a turbulent time at Red Bull
|GETTY
“A lot fresher. It was a lot of weight on my shoulders the last year, but I really felt, I mean I don't feel like I got nothing to prove because you know, what has happened in my previous team has shown already what were the struggles that I had.
“But to me, the main drive factor that I'm back is because I want to enjoy. Like you say, you know, I have a lot of love from the fans."
Perez is set to be joined by former Mercedes rival Valtteri Bottas as Cadillac chooses experience over youth.
They also shut down rumours that the former Red Bull boss Christian Horner would be joining Cadillac after the 51-year-old was sacked following the British Grand Prix earlier this season.
Cadillac chief executive Dan Towriss revealed: “There have been no talks with Christian Horner. No plans to do that.
“I'd like to officially shut down that rumour. Our support backing is 100 per cent in Graeme Lowdon."