Sergio Perez Claims Even Lewis Hamilton Would Struggle to ‘Survive’ as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Teammate
Sergio Perez has made a bold claim that even seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton or Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc would “struggle massively” if they were to race alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. The Mexican driver, who spent four seasons partnering Verstappen, described the challenge as one of the toughest jobs in Formula 1, suggesting that no driver could truly thrive next to the Dutchman within the current Red Bull environment.
Perez, who joined Red Bull in 2021 after stints with Force India and Racing Point, played a crucial role in helping the team secure four consecutive Constructors’ Championships and aided Verstappen in capturing four Drivers’ Championships. However, his own performance in the 2024 season was far from ideal, as he struggled with consistency and car balance, ultimately finishing eighth in the standings — a long way off from his dominant teammate.
Following his exit from the team at the end of 2024, Red Bull turned to young New Zealander Liam Lawson as his replacement. Yet, Lawson’s stint was short-lived; he was dropped after just two races in favor of Yuki Tsunoda, another driver who has also found it nearly impossible to match Verstappen’s blistering pace. The continued rotation of teammates underlines what many believe is a recurring issue — that the second seat at Red Bull remains one of the hardest in Formula 1.
Now preparing for his F1 comeback in 2026 with the new Cadillac Formula 1 team, Perez has offered insight into the challenges of sharing a garage with Verstappen. Speaking to Sky Sports, he admitted that racing alongside the Dutchman is not just about skill but about adapting to an entirely unique and often uncomfortable environment.
> “I don’t like criticising the drivers who have been there because I was in that position, and I know exactly what they are going through,” Perez said. “The minute I signed my exit from Red Bull, when we came to an agreement, I thought, ‘poor guy, whoever comes in next, it’s going to be a very difficult place.’ Being next to Max is already tough, but being next to Max in Red Bull is something most people don’t understand.”
Perez explained that Verstappen’s driving style is so specialized that the car’s development and setup almost always favor the Dutch driver’s preferences. According to him, adapting to such a style requires constant adjustment, and most drivers find it nearly impossible to extract similar performance from the machinery.
> “There are so many things I could tell you,” he continued, “but it’s simply a very difficult job for any driver. No one can survive there. It doesn’t matter if you bring Hamilton or Leclerc — whoever you bring will struggle massively. Max has a very unique way of driving, and you have to keep adapting to what he needs. It’s as simple as that.”
Perez’s comments reflect a recurring narrative around Red Bull’s second seat, which has seen numerous drivers come and go since Verstappen’s rise to prominence. Before Perez, the likes of Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon also found themselves unable to match Verstappen’s performance level, leading to early demotions.
Analysts suggest that part of the issue lies in how Red Bull designs its cars — typically tailored around Verstappen’s aggressive cornering style and razor-sharp front-end grip, characteristics that few other drivers can comfortably handle. This setup allows Verstappen to maximize lap time but often leaves his teammates struggling with instability and tire wear.
Despite the internal challenges, Verstappen remains the dominant force in Formula 1. Heading into the final stretch of the 2025 season, he continues to fight for another Drivers’ Championship, though he currently trails McLaren’s Lando Norris by 36 points. Norris, who recently won the Mexican Grand Prix, now leads the standings, with teammate Oscar Piastri just one point behind in what has become a thrilling intra-team battle at McLaren.
Perez, meanwhile, seems to have made peace with his turbulent Red Bull chapter. His move to Cadillac in 2026 marks a fresh start in his racing career, and he appears eager to bring his wealth of experience to the ambitious American project. Still, his reflections shed light on what many within the sport have whispered for years — that racing next to Max Verstappen at Red Bull is a career-defining challenge, one that even the greatest champions might not overcome.
As the Mexican summed up:
> “It’s not about talent alone. It’s about fitting into an environment that revolves around one person’s style and rhythm. Red Bull and Max have created a perfect combination — but that perfection makes it nearly impossible for anyone else to survive.”
In a sport where fractions of a second determine greatness, Sergio Perez’s candid remarks serve as a rare glimpse into the intense and unforgiving world of Red Bull Racing — a team built to win, but perhaps only with one driver truly at its center.
