Sergio Pérez has spoken out about his time at Red Bull Racing, where he spent four years racing alongside Max Verstappen. The Mexican driver, now 36 and spearheading Cadillac's fresh entry into the sport, feels vindicated by the chaos that unfolded after he left the Milton Keynes squad.

What happened?

Pérez's final year at Red Bull was marred by regular Q1 exits and a painful slide to eighth in the standings. However, he insists that history will look kindly on what he actually managed to achieve in an environment entirely rigged against him. Despite the structural disadvantages, Pérez's tally at Red Bull stands at five Grand Prix victories, a crucial role in securing four drivers' titles for his teammate, and a runner-up spot in the 2023 world championship.

Why it matters for Sergio Pérez

When Pérez arrived at Red Bull in 2021, he was under no illusions about who the team belonged to. The machinery, the culture, and the development path had been meticulously molded around Verstappen for years. Team principal Christian Horner made the team's philosophical hierarchy blunt from their very first meeting. "It was great. I would say that it was fantastic," Pérez recalled, speaking on the High Performance Podcast. "I knew that I was going into Red Bull, into a project that was built for Max over the years. When they signed me up, it was very clear, I knew what I'd signed up for."

What comes next?

Pérez's approach to racing alongside Verstappen was to focus on making the most of the tools available to him. He kept his same engineering team, something he's really proud of. "I went there with the tools available that I had at my expense. I think I overdelivered in all areas over there. It worked out perfectly," Pérez explained. "Of course, it turned out to be there were some very tough times, very tough periods towards the end as well. The pressure and everyone internally. We had a lot of internal civil war going on."

Pérez's form plummeted, and internal civil war began to tear at the fabric of the team. However, he insists that he overdelivered in all areas, and that his early mindset was to focus on making the most of the situation. "So, instead of me thinking, 'Oh, why?' I say, 'Look, I come here, and I make the most of it in all regards.' And it's what I did," he recounted.

Pérez's departure from Red Bull has been followed by a period of chaos, with the team struggling to find its footing. However, Pérez feels vindicated by the events that have unfolded. He's now 36 and spearheading Cadillac's fresh entry into the sport, and he's confident that his time at Red Bull has prepared him for the challenges ahead.

In a recent interview, Pérez reflected on his time at Red Bull, saying, "I think I overdelivered in all areas over there. It worked out perfectly." He's proud of what he achieved, despite the structural disadvantages, and he's confident that history will look kindly on his tenure at the Milton Keynes squad.

The events that have unfolded since Pérez's departure from Red Bull have been chaotic, but Pérez feels vindicated by the outcome. He's now focused on the future, and he's confident that his experience at Red Bull has prepared him for the challenges ahead.

Pérez's story is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite the structural disadvantages, he overdelivered in all areas, and he's now reaping the rewards of his hard work.

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