Imagine being told that your dream job is actually a nightmare. That’s exactly what Sergio Pérez recently revealed about his time as Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull, calling it 'the worst job in Formula 1.' But here’s where it gets controversial—Pérez claims that no matter what he did, it was always a problem. Too fast? Problem. Too slow? Problem. Even matching Verstappen’s pace seemed to create tension. After four years alongside the reigning champion, Pérez was dropped by Red Bull in 2024, despite having two years left on his contract. Now, he’s making a comeback with Cadillac, but his candid reflections on his Red Bull years are sparking heated debates among fans.
In a recent YouTube podcast with Oswaldo Trava, Pérez opened up about the challenges of being Verstappen’s teammate. 'I knew what I was up against,' he admitted. 'At Red Bull, everything was a problem. If I outpaced Max, it created a tense atmosphere. If I was slower, it was still an issue. Even when both of us struggled, it somehow became my fault.' And this is the part most people miss—Pérez’s best season came in 2023 when he finished as runner-up to Verstappen, yet he was released just a year later after finishing eighth in 2024. Was it unfair treatment, or was there more to the story?
Pérez’s journey in F1 has been nothing short of remarkable. Since his debut in 2011, he’s climbed the ranks, achieving his greatest success at Red Bull with fourth, third, and second-place finishes in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. Now, he’s teaming up with Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac, aiming to prove he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. But the question remains: Was Red Bull’s decision justified, or did they let go of a valuable asset?
Here’s the bold question we’re asking—Is being Max Verstappen’s teammate truly the toughest job in F1, or is there more to Pérez’s struggles than meets the eye? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. One thing’s for sure: Pérez’s candid revelations have added a new layer of intrigue to the world of Formula 1, and his comeback with Cadillac will be one to watch.
