Red Bull Paid £6,000/Hour for Sergio Perez's Psychologist

Sergio Perez has revealed the extraordinary lengths Red Bull went to in supporting his performance, disclosing that advisor Helmut Marko hired a psychologist for him at a staggering rate of £6,000 per hour. This insight into the team's investment in its drivers comes alongside other key F1 news, including Haas adjusting its 2026 car launch schedule to avoid calendar congestion.

Why it matters:

The exorbitant fee underscores the immense psychological pressure faced by F1 drivers at the top level and the premium teams place on mental performance. It offers a rare glimpse into the extensive, and often unseen, support structures that a top team like Red Bull provides to extract maximum performance. This revelation also comes amid a period of intense scrutiny for Perez, who has faced criticism for his performances compared to teammate Max Verstappen.

The details:

• Perez's Support: Perez confirmed that Marko arranged for a psychologist to work with him during his time with the team, with the cost reaching £6,000 per hour.
• Haas Launch Change: Haas has moved the launch of its 2026 challenger, the VF-26, to Monday, January 19. The American team cited 'over-congestion' in the original schedule as the reason for the change.
• Verstappen as Benchmark: In separate driver news, Oscar Piastri named Max Verstappen as the 'perfect example' of a driver ready for F1 without needing prior championships, highlighting the Dutchman's perceived innate talent as the grid's gold standard.

Looking Ahead:

While the psychologist story sheds light on past team dynamics at Red Bull, the focus for the entire grid is rapidly shifting to 2026. Haas's launch date adjustment is an early sign of teams finalizing their preparations for the new regulations. As teams finalize their driver lineups and technical packages for the next era, the standard set by drivers like Verstappen remains the benchmark all others will be measured against.