Sergio Perez Reveals Helmut Marko Paid £6,000 for a Single Psychologist Session

Sergio Perez has revealed that a single £6,000 psychologist session, billed to Helmut Marko, was the supposed cure for his early struggles at Red Bull. The Mexican driver joked that the call "worked" and set him up for three successful years, a stark contrast to the intense pressure and internal issues he described during his final, winless 2024 season with the team.

Why it matters:

This anecdote highlights the immense psychological pressure placed on drivers to perform alongside a dominant teammate like Max Verstappen. It underscores the difference between Perez's initial, resolvable struggles and the deeper, systemic issues he claims plagued his final season, suggesting team dynamics can be as crucial as on-track performance. It offers a candid glimpse into the off-track support systems and internal politics that shape a driver's career within a high-stakes environment.

The details:

• The £6,000 Cure: Perez said the team suggested a psychologist after a slow start to 2021. He was presented with a £6,000 bill for one session, which he famously redirected to Helmut Marko, joking it had "cured" him for the next three years.
• A Different 2024: His final season was a different story. Perez sought help "everywhere," including from renowned driver coach Rob Wilson, but felt the car was unpredictable and that he had "your whole team against you."
• The "Max Project": He previously claimed Christian Horner told him early on that "this project was created for Max," making it difficult to succeed regardless of his performance relative to Verstappen.
• Marko's Departure: Helmut Marko, the advisor who paid the bill, left Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season and is reportedly receiving a multi-million euro severance package for his two decades of service.

Looking ahead:

Perez's experience provides a fascinating backdrop for his replacement, Isack Hadjar, who is adopting a markedly different mental approach to being Verstappen's 2026 teammate.

• Hadjar has openly stated he will "accept" being slower than Verstappen initially to avoid the "snowball effect" of frustration and manage expectations from the start.
• This realistic outlook contrasts sharply with the environment Perez described, suggesting a potential evolution in how Red Bull prepares its drivers for the unique challenge of partnering the four-time world champion.