Even Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc would struggle to be Max Verstappen's team-mate at Red Bull, so says Sergio Perez ahead of his return to Formula One. 

Perez drove alongside Verstappen for four years at Red Bull following his switch from Racing Point, with the Mexican playing a key role in the team's success during that time. 

Across his stint with the team, Red Bull won three consecutive constructors' championships, while Verstappen became a four-time world champion in the process. 

However, Perez and Red Bull reached an agreement to part ways with immediate effect ahead of the 2025 F1 season after a poor campaign last year. 

He finished down in eighth in the drivers' championship, with Red Bull failing to defend their constructors' championship, finishing third behind Ferrari and champions McLaren. 

During his time with Red Bull, Perez won five races, claimed three pole positions and collected 29 podium finishes, while also amassing 932 points in total. 

The 35-year-old played a starring role in a dominant 2023 season, finishing second in the drivers' standings with a career-best 305 points. 

Despite signing a new contract in June 2024, his form tailed off, with Perez scoring just nine points in the last eight Grand Prix weekends of the season.

Four of Perez's 37 F1 retirements came that season. Only in 2012 (six) had he suffered more in one year in the competition (also four in 2014). 

But he will return to the grid in 2026 with Cadillac, where he will team up with current Mercedes test driver Valtteri Bottas. 

Home heroes rising fast pic.twitter.com/8TkzCjdugf

— Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@Cadillac_F1) October 14, 2025

But since his departure from Red Bull, both of his replacements in Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, have struggled to match Verstappen in 2025. 

Lawson lasted just two races before being replaced by Tsunoda, with the latter currently 17th in the drivers' standings and a huge 293 points adrift of Verstappen. 

"I don't like criticising drivers that have been there because I was in that position and I know exactly what they are going through," Perez told Sky Sports F1. 

"The minute I signed my exit from Red Bull, when we came to an agreement, I knew 'poor guy, who comes here, it's a very difficult place'.

"Being next to Max is very difficult, but being next to Max in Red Bull is something people don't understand.

"There are so many things I could tell you, but it is simply a very difficult job for a driver. 

"No driver can survive there. It doesn't matter if you bring Hamilton, Leclerc. Whoever you bring there is going to struggle massively.

"It's a very unique driving style. You have to constantly adapt to the needs of Max. It's as simple as that."

Lawson, Tsunoda and Perez are, however, not the only drivers to struggle as Verstappen's team-mates, with Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly also having short stints at Red Bull. 

But while his partners have faltered, Verstappen has thrived, with the potential of a fifth-straight driver's title well and truly on the cards in 2025. 

After three wins in his last six races, as well as three podium finishes, Verstappen is now just 36 points behind championship leader Lando Norris with four races to go, which also includes two sprints. 

And despite his early-season struggles, Perez believes Verstappen's recovery is worthy of him becoming the world champion ahead of Norris and Oscar Piastri. 

"Max has been the action of the year. He's keeping everyone watching F1," Perez said.

"Somehow, they have transformed the season, and with McLaren messing around, he has a chance of getting it done.

"I think he's the driver who deserves the championship the most because he's been driving phenomenally."