After four seasons, Sergio Perez’s journey as Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing draws to a close. His tenure, marked by moments of brilliance and periods of profound struggle, encapsulates what has become arguably the most challenging position in modern Formula 1: partnering with Max Verstappen, a driver of generational talent.
Perez was the fifth driver to take on this demanding role since Verstappen joined Red Bull in 2016. While Verstappen has monopolized the Drivers’ Championship with unprecedented dominance in recent years, Red Bull has not always achieved the same clean sweep in the Constructors’ Championship. This stands in stark contrast to their previous era of supremacy with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, where both drivers consistently contributed to the team’s overall points tally. This discrepancy highlights the immense pressure and unique complexities faced by any driver alongside Verstappen.
The 2021 season, Perez’s inaugural year with Red Bull, saw them locked in a fierce battle with Mercedes for both championships. Winning the Constructors’ title was always going to be an uphill battle against such formidable competition, even with Perez’s crucial support for Verstappen. However, the 2024 Constructors’ Championship undeniably should have been Red Bull’s without question. Verstappen clinched the drivers’ title by a staggering 63 points, while Perez ended the year a colossal 285 points adrift of his teammate. Such a vast points differential for the second driver ultimately compromises a team’s ability to secure both championships consistently.
Perez’s Red Bull Journey: A Season-by-Season Analysis
2021: A Baptism of Fire
If 2021 was largely a one-sided affair between the two Red Bull drivers in terms of raw pace, Perez still played a pivotal role in Verstappen’s championship charge. His defensive drives, often dubbed “Minister of Defence,” were instrumental in several races, notably in Abu Dhabi, helping Verstappen hold off Lewis Hamilton. This initial year was a steep learning curve, adapting to a new team and a car that was not naturally suited to his driving style. While he secured a memorable victory in Baku, consistent front-running performance proved elusive against both Verstappen and the dominant Mercedes machinery.
2022: Glimmers of Ground Effect Glory
Perez enjoyed a stronger 2022 season, particularly in the early stages. The introduction of F1’s new ‘ground effect’ regulations seemed to suit him well, and there were clearly times when he found the car’s handling more to his liking than Verstappen. His affinity for temporary street circuits, in particular, shone through, evidenced by his masterful victory at the Monaco Grand Prix. For a brief period, it appeared Perez might be able to challenge Verstappen more consistently. However, as the season progressed and Red Bull refined the RB18, the car evolved more towards Verstappen’s preferences, and the Dutchman gradually reasserted his overwhelming dominance.
2023: Overshadowed by the RB19’s Supremacy
The 2023 season was a stark contrast, as Perez’s growing struggles were largely obscured by the sheer dominance of Red Bull’s RB19. This car was a masterpiece of engineering, allowing Verstappen to achieve unprecedented levels of success. Even with such a superior machine, Perez’s qualifying performances often left him playing catch-up on race days. His pair of wins, while valuable, paled significantly in comparison to his teammate’s astounding 19 victories. Verstappen’s supremacy was so profound that, as the statistics famously showed, he would have still won the title even if he hadn’t returned for the last 10 races after the summer break. This season vividly illustrated the gap that had emerged between the two Red Bull drivers, raising questions about Perez’s long-term future.
2024: A Fading Promise
The 2024 season started with renewed hope for Perez. Towards the end of 2023, there were signs that he had rediscovered some of his form, and this momentum seemingly carried into the first races of the current season. As Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was at pains to point out, Perez stood on the podium four times in the first five rounds, a period that reportedly cemented Red Bull’s decision to extend his contract for two more years. With the benefit of hindsight, this looks like a disastrous misjudgment. Following the contract extension, Perez’s performance plummeted dramatically. He never appeared in the top five again all year, taking a paltry nine points over the final eight rounds. This catastrophic decline in form was clearly unacceptable and may well have triggered the performance clauses in his contract Horner alluded to, ultimately leading to his departure.
The Verstappen Teammate Conundrum: A Historical Perspective
It’s not as if Perez’s two immediate predecessors performed significantly better against Max. Since Daniel Ricciardo departed Red Bull at the end of 2018, Verstappen has enjoyed near-total superiority over every driver paired with him. This trend underscores the unique challenge of being Verstappen’s teammate, a task that has proven too daunting for several talented individuals.
The Failed Ricciardo Reunion
Red Bull was clearly keen to reform the Verstappen-Ricciardo line-up when the opportunity to rehire their former driver appeared at the end of 2022. Ricciardo, who had previously shown he could challenge Verstappen, albeit in an earlier stage of Max’s career, was seen as a potential solution to their second-driver woes. However, his stint back in their junior team, AlphaTauri (now RB), never fully convinced the Red Bull hierarchy that he could still perform at the elite level required to partner Verstappen in a championship-winning car. His return, while nostalgic, ultimately highlighted how much both Ricciardo and Verstappen had evolved since their original partnership.
The Missed Opportunity: Carlos Sainz Jnr
Aside from Ricciardo in his prime, only one other driver has shown the consistent potential to truly rival Verstappen early in their F1 careers: Carlos Sainz Jnr. Both drivers started their F1 journeys as teammates at Toro Rosso in 2015, where Sainz often pushed Verstappen to his limits. Sainz was arguably a strong contender in the driver market when Christian Horner made the fateful decision to rehire Perez. In retrospect, given Sainz’s subsequent success and consistent performances at McLaren and Ferrari, that call to overlook him for Perez looks hasty at best. Sainz has proven himself to be a highly capable and adaptable driver, winning races and demonstrating strong consistency, qualities Red Bull desperately needed in their second seat.
Verstappen’s Performance Against His F1 Teammates: A Broad Overview
Analyzing Max Verstappen’s performance against his various F1 teammates reveals a pattern of consistent dominance. While statistical tables would typically illustrate this with raw data, a textual overview highlights the key takeaways:
- Carlos Sainz Jnr: In their debut season at Toro Rosso, Sainz was arguably the closest Verstappen ever had to an equal in his early F1 years. Their rivalry was intense, showcasing both their immense talents.
- Daniel Ricciardo: Ricciardo was a formidable teammate for Verstappen at Red Bull. They had a relatively even head-to-head record for a time, with Ricciardo often out-qualifying Verstappen in their early years together. However, as Verstappen matured, the balance began to shift, leading to Ricciardo’s eventual departure in pursuit of a team where he could be the undisputed lead driver.
- Pierre Gasly & Alexander Albon: Both drivers struggled significantly when promoted to Red Bull Racing. They found it exceptionally difficult to adapt to the Red Bull car and match Verstappen’s pace, leading to their demotions within a short period. Their struggles underscored the unique demands of driving for the senior team alongside Verstappen.
- Sergio Perez: As detailed above, Perez’s tenure was characterized by flashes of brilliance, particularly in races suited to his style, but ultimately lacked the consistent performance required to challenge Verstappen or reliably secure a strong Constructors’ tally.
Qualifying Comparison: Perez vs Verstappen
One of the most telling metrics in Formula 1 is qualifying performance. While race pace can fluctuate, raw one-lap speed often defines a driver’s inherent quickness. Across their four seasons together, Max Verstappen consistently outperformed Sergio Perez in qualifying. The gap, particularly after the early phase of 2022, often proved insurmountable for Perez, forcing him into difficult race strategies and compromising his chances for podiums or victories. This consistency in qualifying illustrates the fundamental pace difference that ultimately shaped their partnership.
Unrepresentative comparisons omitted. Negative value: Verstappen was faster; Positive value: Perez was faster
Verstappen vs Perez – Season-by-Season Race Performance
A detailed race-by-race comparison highlights the ebbs and flows of their partnership. While specific data points are dynamic and extensive, the general trend indicates Verstappen’s superior consistency and ability to extract maximum performance from the car across a wider range of conditions and circuits. Perez’s strong weekends were often punctuated by periods of struggle, especially in qualifying, which then impacted his race results.
2021 Race-by-Race Overview
| BAH | EMI | POR | SPA | MON | AZE | FRA | STY | AUS | GRE | HUN | BEL | NET | ITA | RUS | TUR | USA | MEX | BRA | QAT | SAU | ABU | ||
| Verstappen | Q | P1 | P3 | P1 | P2 | P2 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P3 | P1 | P1 | P3 | P1 | P1 | P3 | P3 | P1 | P2 | P3 | P1 |
| R | P2 | P1 | P2 | P2 | DNS | P18 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P9 | P1 | P1 | P14 | P2 | P2 | P2 | P1 | P2 | P2 | DNF | P1 | |
| Perez | Q | P11 | P2 | P4 | P8 | P9 | P7 | P5 | P5 | P3 | P5 | P7 | P7 | P5 | P8 | P9 | P7 | P7 | P4 | P4 | P11 | P5 | P4 |
| R | P5 | P11 | P4 | P5 | P3 | P1 | P3 | P4 | P3 | DNF | P8 | DNF | P8 | P5 | P9 | P3 | P3 | P3 | P4 | P4 | P2 | P15 |
2022 Race-by-Race Overview
| BAH | SAU | AUS | EMI | MIA | SPA | MON | AZE | CAN | GBR | AUT | FRA | HUN | BEL | NED | ITA | SIN | JAP | USA | MEX | BRZ | ABU | ||
| Verstappen | Q | P1 | P4 | P2 | P1 | P3 | P2 | P4 | P1 | P1 | P2 | P1 | P1 | P10 | P1 | P1 | P7 | P8 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P4 | P1 |
| R | DNF | P1 | DNF | P1 | P1 | P1 | P3 | P1 | P1 | P7 | P2 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P7 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P6 | P1 | |
| Perez | Q | P5 | P1 | P3 | P7 | P4 | P3 | P2 | P2 | P8 | P4 | P5 | P3 | P11 | P2 | P5 | P4 | P2 | P4 | P4 | P4 | P9 | P2 |
| R | P18 | P4 | P2 | P2 | P4 | P2 | P1 | P2 | DNF | P2 | P4 | DNF | P5 | P2 | P5 | P6 | P1 | P2 | DNF | P3 | P7 | P3 |
2023 Race-by-Race Overview
| BAH | SAU | AUS | AZE | MIA | MON | SPA | CAN | AUT | GBR | HUN | BEL | NED | ITA | SIN | JAP | QAT | USA | MEX | BRZ | LAS | ABU | ||
| Verstappen | Q | P1 | P15 | P1 | P2 | P9 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P11 | P1 | P1 | P6 | P3 | P1 | P1 | P1 |
| R | P1 | P2 | P1 | P2 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P5 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | |
| Perez | Q | P2 | P1 | P2 | P6 | P2 | P12 | P11 | P12 | P15 | P6 | P9 | P2 | P7 | P2 | P13 | P5 | P8 | P9 | P5 | P9 | P11 | P2 |
| R | P2 | P1 | P5 | P1 | P2 | P16 | P4 | P6 | P3 | P6 | P2 | P2 | P4 | P2 | P8 | P4 | P10 | P4 | DNF | P4 | P3 | P4 |
2024 Race-by-Race Overview
| BAH | SAU | AUS | JAP | CHI | MIA | EMI | MON | CAN | SPA | AUT | GBR | HUN | BEL | NED | ITA | AZE | SIN | USA | MEX | BRZ | LAS | QAT | ABU | ||
| Verstappen | Q | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P2 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 |
| R | P1 | P1 | DNF | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | P1 | |
| Perez | Q | P5 | P2 | P6 | P2 | P2 | P4 | P3 | P18 | P16 | P11 | P10 | P8 | P7 | P13 | P15 | P14 | P12 | P11 | P10 | P9 | P12 | P13 | P14 | P11 |
| R | P2 | P2 | P5 | P2 | P3 | P2 | P8 | P8 | P13 | P12 | P11 | P10 | P9 | P14 | P16 | P13 | P10 | P12 | P11 | P15 | P10 | P14 | P13 | P12 |
The Impact on Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship
While Max Verstappen’s individual prowess has secured multiple Drivers’ Championships for Red Bull, the lack of a consistently strong second driver has, at times, hampered their pursuit of an equally dominant Constructors’ title. The Constructors’ Championship requires two cars to perform at or near their peak week-in, week-out. The vast points gap between Verstappen and Perez, especially in seasons where the RB19 was untouchable, prevented Red Bull from achieving maximum points hauls, potentially leaving the door open for rivals in closer championship fights. This was evident in 2021, and the stark performance drop in 2024 further underscores how critical a strong second driver is for overall team success, not just individual accolades.
The challenge for Red Bull now is to find a driver who can not only adapt to the car and provide crucial strategic support to Verstappen but also consistently contribute significant points, podiums, and occasional victories. This requires a unique blend of speed, consistency, and mental fortitude. The next driver in this seat will inherit one of the most scrutinized and demanding roles in all of motorsport, tasked with helping Red Bull maintain its position at the pinnacle of Formula 1.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Challenge and Contribution
Sergio Perez’s four-year stint at Red Bull Racing will be remembered as a complex chapter. He was a dedicated team player who delivered some spectacular results, particularly in supporting Verstappen’s 2021 title bid and securing memorable victories in 2022 and 2023. However, his struggles with consistency, especially in qualifying and adapting to the evolving car characteristics, ultimately led to a widening performance gap with Max Verstappen. This made the “toughest job in F1” even more evident. While he leaves Red Bull, his contributions were significant in moments, but the inability to consistently match Verstappen’s output meant the team sometimes missed out on a cleaner sweep of championship silverware. Red Bull’s quest for the ideal second driver continues, a testament to the extraordinary benchmark set by Max Verstappen.
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