SERGIO PEREZ SLAMS RED BULL ENVIRONMENT AFTER SHOCKING CADILLAC F1 MOVE
Sergio Perez signs with Cadillac F1 for 2026. Read his honest take on the " Verstappen problem" and his new start with Bottas.
Sergio Perez’s time at Red Bull wrapped up after the 2024 F1 season, and honestly, it wasn’t pretty. His performance kept sliding, and by the end, everyone saw it coming.
Looking back, Perez didn’t hold back about his years with Red Bull. He talked about the constant criticism and summed it up with, “Everything was a problem.”
He first joined Red Bull in 2021, stepping in for Alex Albon. Four seasons later, he and the team went their separate ways. But he’s not done with F1 just yet—he’s signed a multi-year deal with Cadillac, teaming up with Valtteri Bottas this season. It’s a fresh start, and for Perez, probably a shot to end his career on a high note after hitting rock bottom at Red Bull.
It wasn’t always this rough, though. When he first joined, he actually impressed people by keeping up with Max Verstappen—sometimes even beating him. In 2023, Perez finished second behind Verstappen, giving Red Bull their first-ever one-two finish in the drivers’ standings.
But 2024 was a disaster. He started okay, but quickly lost pace, and the bad run just wouldn’t stop. Eventually, Red Bull decided they’d had enough.
Talking about his time at Red Bull on the Crack podcast, Perez said, “We had the best team. Everything just fell apart. Honestly, we could’ve dominated for a decade. But it all ended. Red Bull is the best team, but it’s complicated—being Max’s teammate is the toughest job in F1. It’s the best and worst seat, no question.”
He added, “People forget. When I first arrived and got results, everyone acted like it was no big deal. But it’s tough in that seat. I knew what I was walking into—I wasn’t there to beat one of the best.”
Like a lot of Verstappen’s teammates, Perez struggled to keep up. The real trouble started when the team rolled out upgrades designed for Verstappen’s style. Perez usually did best early in the year, when the car was heavier and felt more stable to him.
According to Perez, even when he did outpace Verstappen, it just made things worse. “Everything was a problem. If I were fast, it was a problem. If I were slower than Max, that was a problem too. Everything turned into an issue.”
He didn’t just complain, though. Perez said he learned to stop griping and just make the best of a tough situation—because, honestly, that’s all you really can do in his shoes.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
