Sergio Perez breaks down why most drivers don’t ‘survive’ at Red Bull 

Sergio Perez has had quite a few ups and downs since joining the Red Bull F1 team.

Sergio Perez breaks down why most drivers don’t ‘survive’ at Red Bull 

Sergio Perez (via IMAGO)

Sergio Perez has been a Red Bull driver since 2021. It has been known for many years now, that surviving at Red Bull is an extremely challenging task. Perez has been doing it for the past three years. Several drivers have also been observed switching teams for the same reason. In 2019, Pierre Gasly, Daniel Ricciardo‘s replacement, also left for another team; finally, at the end of 2020, Alex Albon was let go by Red Bull.

There is a great deal of pressure and responsibility associated with being a second driver on the Milton-Keynes-based team. The pressure is increased by having Max Verstappen, one of the most dominant drivers in F1 as a teammate.

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Perez’s contract with the team is currently in its final year. While talking about the dynamics of the team, he told the media, 

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But at Red Bull, it certainly has changed a bit. I mean, there’s a reason why lots of drivers haven’t survived, because the amount of pressure, the amount of focus on yourself, they don’t measure the same, all the teams – I feel like how they measure at Red Bull is different to any anyone else.
Sergio Perez said on Beyond the Grid podcast

There have been a lot of speculations regarding Perez getting replaced for next year. In 2023, Perez pulled only two wins, and even though he was second on the charts, in points, he was nowhere near his teammate. The Mexican has a lot to prove this season to keep his Red Bull seat. 

Sergio Perez doesn’t plan on spending too many years at Red Bull 

Red Bull has the upper hand on rivals during the ongoing season as well. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have pulled 1-2 respectively in the first two races. As mentioned earlier, Perez has to prove himself to maintain his seat on the Red Bull team. But the Mexican driver perhaps doesn’t plan on staying too long with the team.

Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez (via IMAGO)

While talking to the media about the same, he added, 

At Red Bull they want me to perform at my best, and if I do, I’m sure they’ll want me to stay. We have good years ahead of us, maybe not many, but several.
Sergio Perez said in a past interview with Soymotor

Perez is the only Red Bull driver who has managed to stay more than three years at Red Bull. Having Max Verstappen as a teammate could be daunting and it was proven so in the past, with Pierre Gasly switching teams in 2019, and Alex Albon getting dropped by the team at the end of the 2020 season. Perez has managed to stay strong despite the stiff challenges at Red Bull.

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