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Sergio Perez’s Shocking Warning: ‘No Driver Can Handle Red Bull’
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Highlights
- Sergio Perez warns of extreme pressure as Red Bull’s second driver
- Perez finished second in 2023 but left Red Bull in 2024
- Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda struggled in Red Bull’s second seat
- No current F1 driver can easily handle Verstappen’s teammate role
- Perez joins Cadillac F1 for 2025, leaving Red Bull behind
- 2025 Mexican Grand Prix set for October 26, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Sergio Perez issues a stark warning about Red Bull’s second seat after leaving the team late last year. He highlights unique demands alongside Max Verstappen as the 2025 season unfolds.
Perez argues no driver can truly withstand the role long term. The expectations, scrutiny, and direct comparison make the seat unusually unforgiving.
His Red Bull stint spanned 2021 to 2024. He finished second in 2023, then performance dipped in 2024, prompting a mutually agreed exit.
Red Bull promoted Liam Lawson to partner Verstappen. Lawson lasted two races before Yuki Tsunoda replaced him. Tsunoda also struggled to match the programme’s targets.
“No driver can truly endure the pressures of Red Bull’s second seat,” Perez warns.
Perez shows empathy for both drivers. He avoids public criticism, citing the relentless pressure he felt inside the operation.
He describes the second seat as almost impossible. The culture, development focus, and constant yardstick of Verstappen amplify any shortfall.
Perez finished runner-up in 2023, then departed Red Bull at the end of 2024.
Speculation links rookie Isack Hadjar with the seat next season. Perez disagrees, suggesting the timing and environment would be brutal for any newcomer.
He extends that view to established stars. Perez says even Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc would find the role extremely challenging.
Lawson lasted two races before Tsunoda stepped in, underscoring the role’s difficulty.
The core issue is expectation management. Red Bull’s standards are exacting, and margins are narrow. Sustained consistency alongside a dominant benchmark remains the defining hurdle.
Perez moves to Cadillac for 2025, seeking a clean reset. Red Bull continues its search as Mexico’s round approaches on October 26 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Visual Summary
Red Bull 2nd Seat
It’s not just a seat—it’s a pressure cooker
vs
Verstappen Domination
Unrivaled Wins
Unbearable Pressure
⚠️
“Nobody can handle the pressures of Red Bull’s 2nd seat—not even F1’s best.”
Pressure Level
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
