A strong bond with Red Bull
It can be argued that 2025 was a year of vindication for Sergio Perez. After being let go by Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season for not matching the performance of Max Verstappen, the Mexican driver watched as both Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda failed to succeed in his former role, proving that he was not the issue for the Anglo-Austrian team. Now, Checo will have the opportunity to demonstrate his value once again behind the wheel of Cadillac, the American team making its debut in Formula 1 this year.
During a recent episode of the Cracks Podcast with Oso Trava, Perez spoke about his ongoing relationship with Red Bull, revealing that he remains on excellent terms with the team. He stated, “I gave everything to the team and Red Bull gave everything to me. I believe that both sides are grateful for having worked together. I have an incredible relationship with everyone: I talk to Chalerm (Yoovidhya) once a week. This is life: in the end, it’s all about results, but you always have to be grateful, and I am very grateful to Red Bull because they changed my life.”
The pneumonia of Emilio
Perez also shared a dramatic moment from late in the 2023 season, when he was competing for the vice-world championship. Red Bull had never achieved a 1-2 finish in the Drivers’ Championship at the end of a season, and this goal was highly important to the team in Milton Keynes. He explained, “It’s easy to talk from the outside. When I was in Qatar fighting for second place with Lewis Hamilton, my son Emilio was in hospital with pneumonia. I would have been the first Red Bull driver to complete a one-two finish in the championship. It was very important. I spoke with the doctor, I asked: ‘How serious is it? Is there a risk he could die?’ and then I spent the entire week in the simulator, and the team was wondering: ‘What is this madman doing here?’ It’s just an example of everything I gave to Red Bull. I achieved so much under the circumstances I was in because I gave everything of myself.”
With pride, Sergio Perez concluded by emphasizing the dedication and personal sacrifices that defined his time at Red Bull, highlighting both his professional commitment and the strong bond that continues to connect him to the team.
While the 2026 season brings new challenges and a fresh start in American colors, the bond between Checo and Red Bull remains defined by mutual respect and the memory of the immense sacrifices made to help the team reach its historic milestones.
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