Sergio Perez told the High Performance podcast that Red Bull Racing repeatedly framed his racing shortcomings as mental problems, prompting him to seek a psychologist.
Red Bull’s Unyielding Focus on Verstappen
During his four-season stint in the UK-based outfit, the Mexican driver said that the team’s decision‑making hierarchy almost always positioned Max Verstappen at the centre of every strategy meeting and media briefing. “In the end, it was clear that the project was for Max,” Perez explained, a comment that reflected the strict focus placed on the four‑time champion.
The pressure of occupying the second seat on such a platform was intense. “I had to accept the role I was in and stop trying to over‑push the system,” Perez recalled, underscoring how the environment could potentially break a mind that was already stretched thin.
Perez’s Personal Resilience
Despite the hierarchy, the driver said he took full account of the personal growth he had fostered over the years. “It was like peanuts when I envisioned myself as a fighter,” he remarked, attributing his endurance to a strong character that allowed him to keep working within the constraints of the team’s rules.
Perez also noted that support came only at certain moments: “Christian Hornor and Helmut Marko were happy if I won a race, but the reality behind the scenes was that the team’s commitment lay squarely on Verstappen.”
Mental Health and the Team’s Response
When the team suggested a mental‑health specialist could help, Perez agreed, choosing to pursue outside therapy in order to demonstrate an open, problem‑solving attitude. “It was a sign that I was willing to do anything to overcome the issues that were being blamed on me,” he said. He admitted that the request pushed him toward receiving help, explaining that “every time you didn’t deliver, they’d associate it with mental issues.”
Reaching out to a psychologist was not a personal initiative born only from his own concerns. “I sought outside help because they pushed me for it,” Perez clarified, noting that the request came directly from management.
Future Outlook
After a year away from the Formula 1 grid, Perez is set to return in 2026 with Cadillact, climbing back into top‑tier racing after a long pause. For the remainder of his time at Red Bull, the driver remains characterised by the sense that he must keep his mental state under tight armour and carry through until the end of the season, a balance that is now a hard‑wired part of his racing toolkit.
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