Sergio Pérez Warns No Driver Can Thrive as Verstappen's Red Bull Teammate

Sergio Pérez, who was dropped by Red Bull Racing at the end of 2024, has highlighted the extreme difficulty of being Max Verstappen's teammate, asserting that no driver, including seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc, could survive in that role at Red Bull. Pérez's comments follow the struggles of his successors—Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda—who have failed to match Verstappen's performance, with Tsunoda only scoring points sporadically. Pérez described the Red Bull environment as uniquely challenging, involving intense pressure and scrutiny that outsiders do not fully understand, leading to a revolving door for Verstappen's teammates. Despite Verstappen's dominance and a strong championship campaign, his teammates have faced significant challenges adapting to the team's demands and car design. Rumors suggest that standout rookie Isack Hadjar may be promoted to partner Verstappen in 2026, while Pérez prepares to return to Formula 1 with Cadillac. Overall, Pérez's reflections underline the near-impossibility of competing alongside Verstappen within Red Bull Racing's high-pressure setting.