Perez Claims Red Bull Was Built for Verstappen in Eye-Opening Interview

Sergio Perez has made a startling claim about his time at Red Bull, stating that team principal Christian Horner told him from the outset that the entire project was built around Max Verstappen. The Mexican driver further alleged that his performance, whether faster or slower than his teammate, was always treated as 'a problem' within the team, shedding light on the immense pressure of the second seat.

Why it matters:

Perez's comments pull back the curtain on the internal dynamics of F1's most dominant team, reinforcing the narrative of a clear number-one driver structure. It highlights the near-impossible task for any driver in the supporting role at Red Bull, providing crucial context for the team's relentless focus on Verstappen's title campaigns and the challenges faced by those who race alongside him.

The details:

• Perez claims Horner was transparent from the beginning, telling him, "This project was created for Max," establishing a clear hierarchy within the team.
• He described his position as a "no-win" situation, stating that being faster than Verstappen created problems, as did being slower.
• In other F1 news, former driver David Coulthard weighed in on the 'greatest of all time' debate, placing Ayrton Senna at the top but choosing Verstappen over Lewis Hamilton in a direct comparison between the two modern champions.
• Mercedes has pushed back against being labeled favorites for the 2026 season, with engine chief Hywel Thomas questioning how the paddock can have any certainty about performance under the new regulations, saying, "God knows how the rest of the paddock knows."

What's next:

Perez's revelations are sure to intensify scrutiny on Red Bull's driver selection for 2025 as they search for a new teammate for Verstappen. Meanwhile, the speculation and mind games surrounding the 2026 regulations will only ramp up, with teams like Mercedes keen to downplay expectations until the new cars hit the track for the first time.