Sergio Perez has revealed the significance of taking time away from Components 1, claiming that when he was compelled to step out of it, he ‘realised lots of issues’.
The Mexican driver was changed at Purple Bull for the 2025 season by rookie Liam Lawson. Having misplaced the seat on the finish of 2024, Perez was unable to safe one other full-time seat and as a substitute took a while away from the championship.
“I did not really feel on the time [but I needed the break]. When you find yourself within the sport, you’re carried away with the truth that you’re all the time fascinated with your subsequent yr, your subsequent race, your subsequent contract,” Perez informed F1.com.
“It is like you’re in computerized mode. However as soon as you’re compelled to step out of it like I used to be, you realise lots of issues and also you see the game totally different.”
He added: “When you find yourself in that bubble of Components 1 – as a result of on the finish of the day, Components 1 is a bubble – as a driver you are concerned about lots of elements. You aren’t all the time happy since you did not take the additional time that was in there and so forth and also you neglect that the principle factor is to get pleasure from it, as a result of on the finish of the day, we’re privileged to have the ability to do what we love.
“That to me was like the largest lesson: that it’s a must to benefit from the sport as a result of we’re so aggressive and we’re so targeted on giving our most that you simply neglect to get pleasure from it.”
Race winner Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes GP, Sergio Perez, Purple Bull Racing
Picture by: Dan Istitene / Getty Photos
The 35-year-old finally signed with Cadillac, which is about to debut on the grid in 2026, alongside Mercedes reserve and former Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas.
“At first, the primary couple of months had been nice,” he mentioned. “I realised that I missed [F1] as a result of I saved following it. I saved waking up for the races.
“I may see what was occurring – I used to be speaking to mates that had been within the paddock, and I realised that in all probability I missed it greater than I assumed.
“After which when the dialog began with Cadillac and we may see that zeal for racing, then, yeah, I felt like I nonetheless have one thing left in me.”
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