In recent days, Sergio Perez has once again made some tough confessions about his time at Red Bull, sparking a media storm around himself and the Milton Keynes-based team. While many believe the Mexican driver endured difficult years and often found himself on the margins of the project, others, such as former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, argue that Perez was fully aware of the team’s objectives and of the central role played by Max Verstappen.
“If you look at it from the point of view of a Mexican Perez fan, you could argue that Red Bull did not treat him entirely fairly,” the Colombian said on his MontoyAS podcast.
The victories achieved and the awareness of what he was getting into
According to Juan Pablo Montoya, Sergio Perez knew very well that he was not at the centre of the Red Bull project. Despite this, he still managed to secure several podium finishes and race victories, results that confirmed — and perhaps even increased — his value within Formula 1.
“But as he said himself, he knew what he was getting into. Fair or not, Red Bull helped him achieve five victories. So how much can you really complain?” Juan Pablo Montoya explained. “In the end, you can complain that sometimes the car was undriveable, but there were also many positive things. Red Bull also gave him a lot of opportunities. When he felt comfortable in the car, he did an excellent job,” he concluded.
Juan Pablo Montoya’s blunt assessment highlights the harsh realities of life as a teammate to a generational talent like Max Verstappen. While Sergio Perez may feel marginalized by the team’s technical direction, the five Grand Prix trophies in his cabinet stand as a testament to the high-performance platform Red Bull provided him. As the 2026 era approaches, the legacy of “Checo” at Red Bull will likely remain a polarizing topic, balanced between his vital role in team titles and his individual struggles to match the pace of the triple world champion.
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