Helmut Marko has provided a direct explanation for why Sergio Perez struggled to match Max Verstappen during his tenure at Red Bull. The Red Bull team consultant pointed to the Dutchman’s sensitivity to a loose rear end and his unique ability to drive through instability. The comments come as Perez prepares for his full-time Formula 1 return with Cadillac in 2026 after staying away from the grid for a year. Perez left Red Bull at the end of 2024, closing a four-season spell that delivered two Constructors’ Championships and supported Verstappen’s run of four consecutive Drivers’ titles. He was replaced by Liam Lawson for 2025, which ended Red Bull’s most stable driver pairing since Verstappen joined the team in 2016. Appearing on the “F1 Beyond the Grid” podcast, Marko was asked whether Verstappen’s car was too sharp for most drivers and why only he could exploit its limits. He responded with a clear assessment of the difference between the teammates, saying: “His feel and car control is what makes a difference. We had the car which was very loose in the rear. Checo (Sergio Perez) was lifting and if you ask Max said maybe it’s a little bit unstable but he still was on forced full throttle.” (8: 00 onwards) Sergio Perez’s run beside Max Verstappen was longer than any of his predecessors. Before the Mexican arrived, the second Red Bull seat had cycled through Daniil Kvyat, Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, and Alexander Albon. After Perez’s exit, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson stepped in this year. Across the decade, Red Bull’s results remained anchored by Verstappen, who delivered 68 of the team’s 77 wins in that span. Perez took six of them, making him the second-most successful Red Bull driver of the era. His consistency helped the Milton Keynes outfit balance its championship push despite the car’s sharpness that suited Verstappen more than anyone else. Even in 2025, Max Verstappen overshadowed his teammates. The Dutchman has scored 341 points and remains in the title picture, while Tsunoda has collected 25, with three races left. “I missed it more than I thought”: Sergio Perez finds new purpose with Cadillac Serigo Perez spent most of 2025 away from the paddock, despite interest from other teams. He stepped back for the first extended break of his career, using the period to reset after 15 years in F1. The downtime helped him understand what he wanted next and how much the routine of racing meant to him. That clarity arrived as Cadillac entered talks about its 2026 Formula 1 project. “In the beginning, the first couple of months were great. I realised that I missed (F1) because I kept following it. I kept waking up for the races. I was talking to friends that were in the paddock, and I realized that probably I missed it more than I thought. And then when the conversation started with Cadillac and we could see that passion for racing. I felt like I still have something left in me,” Perez told F1. Cadillac’s preparations have already begun. Sergio Perez completed his first run in a 2023-spec Ferrari at Imola. It was his first outing in an F1 car in nearly a year, giving him and the team a chance to rebuild rhythm and sharpness. He has spent recent months moving between Cadillac’s facilities in Silverstone and Charlotte, working through simulator plans and technical briefings, as the team lays its foundation. The American outfit will join F1 as the 11th team in 2026, with Valtteri Bottas set to partner Perez once his Mercedes commitments conclude.
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