Sergio Perez has described partnering Max Verstappen at Red Bull as "the worst job there is in Formula One" following a turbulent ending to his time with the team. 

Perez drove alongside Verstappen for four seasons at Red Bull following his switch from Racing Point in 2021, and he played a key role in the team's success over that period. 

The Mexican, who returns to the grid in 2026 with Cadillac after parting ways with Red Bull two years ago, helped Verstappen to four consecutive Drivers' Championship titles. 

Perez finished second in the standings in 2023, a year that saw Red Bull win 21 out of 22 races, though he only claimed two victories compared to Verstappen's tally of 19. 

"I was on the best team, but it was complicated because being Max's teammate at Red Bull is the worst job there is in F1," Perez told a podcast with Oswaldo Trava. 

"I knew what I was up against. At Red Bull everything was a problem; if I was faster than Max it was a problem, a very tense atmosphere was created. 

"It was a problem if you were faster than Max. If you were too slow and Max was slow, then everything was a problem."

The debut duo pic.twitter.com/otVvSg1GWT

— Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@Cadillac_F1) December 11, 2025

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

He finished in eighth in the drivers' standings with Red Bull failing to defend their Constructors' Championship crown, 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. 

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). 

"We had the best team, but unfortunately everything was destroyed," Perez said.

"We had the team to have dominated the sport for the next 10 years, I think, and unfortunately it all ended."

Red Bull took third again in the constructors' standings in 2025 and will be hoping to improve this season, with Isack Hadjar coming in to replace Yuki Tsunoda in the team.