Sergio Perez has described partnering with four-time champion Max Verstappen at Purple Bull because the “hardest” job in Components 1.
Perez drove for Purple Bull from 2021 to the tip of 2024 earlier than he was changed by Liam Lawson for the 2025 season. After taking a yr out of the championship, the Mexican signed with new F1 group Cadillac for 2026.
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The Milton Keynes outfit has struggled for a while to discover a driver who is ready to extract the identical stage of efficiency from its equipment as Verstappen does.
Whereas Lawson stepped as much as the seat for 2025, he was changed after simply two race weekends by Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver remained within the place till the tip of the yr earlier than Isack Hadjar was signed for 2026.
Throughout an look on the Excessive Efficiency podcast, Perez mirrored on his four-year stint with the group. “To face Max at Purple Bull is the hardest,” Perez admitted. “To face Max in some other group will likely be very powerful, however to face him at Purple Bull along with his group, his folks, it is powerful.
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Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing, Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing
“You want the very best of the very best in all areas, and also you simply do not have it, whereas he has all of it. All of the alternatives when it comes to engineering, senior engineering, skilled engineering – all the pieces goes to Max.”
Regardless of the difficulties, Perez insists he accepted the truth early on in his time beside Verstappen. “However I knew it earlier than I got here. So I assumed I can both complain or get on with what I’ve, and that is what I did. For the 4 years I used to be there, I saved my similar engineering group, which is one thing I really feel extraordinarily happy with.”
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After the primary half of the season with Cadillac, which joined the grid in 2026 because the eleventh group, Perez sits twenty second within the drivers’ championship.
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