Perez denies 'overdelivering' at Cadillac, says Red Bull struggles were out of his control

Sergio Perez has rejected the idea that he is "overdelivering" for Cadillac in his Formula 1 comeback, arguing instead that his struggles during the final months at Red Bull were driven by circumstances outside his control. The Mexican driver insists his current strong form is simply a return to his standard level, unshackled from the constraints he faced while paired with Max Verstappen.

Why it matters:

Perez's remarks reopen the conversation about Red Bull's internal dynamics and whether a car philosophy tailored almost exclusively to Verstappen effectively neutralized his teammate's strengths. His resurgence at Cadillac serves as a reminder that driver performance cannot always be separated from the machinery and development culture surrounding them.

The details:

• Perez left Red Bull at the end of 2024 after a brutal final season in which he regularly failed to score points, unable to adapt to a car developed around Verstappen's aggressive preferences.
• Speaking to media, Perez said "very different circumstances" in his last six months at Red Bull kept him from showing his "true potential," citing multiple unseen factors behind the slump.
• Now paired with Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac, Perez has become a steadying force during the American outfit's maiden F1 campaign in 2026, drawing praise for consistent points contributions and leadership.
• He maintains that his driving has not fundamentally changed, stating he was already performing at a "very high level" at Red Bull given the constraints, and sees no difference adapting to the current generation of cars.

What's next:

Cadillac will need Perez's experience to keep the team moving up the midfield order as it navigates the growing pains of a debut season. If he can sustain this form, the narrative of his Red Bull exit will likely shift from decline to liberation, with the second half of 2026 offering a chance to cement his reputation as one of the grid's most capable veterans.