Sergio Perez revealed that the way Red Bull measures their standards is “different from anyone else,” which explains why drivers haven’t “survived” with the team.
Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly were demoted to Toro Rosso mid-season for underperforming as Red Bull drivers, and the looming presence of their junior team ensures that drivers are always ready to take their spot if necessary.
Sergio Perez describes the unique pressure of driving for Red Bull.
Perez became the first non-Red Bull junior driver to join the team as a ‘outsider’ since Mark Webber in 2007, when he signed in 2021, replacing Alex Albon, who was demoted to third driver due to his inability to match Max Verstappen on the other side of the garage.
Now in his fourth season with the club and in the penultimate year of his current contract, his seat is one of the most sought-after in Formula One, given Red Bull’s current dominance in the sport.
But, given his extensive Formula One experience, Perez understands that pressure is always present. However, having raced for Sauber, McLaren, and ‘Team Silverstone’ in its various guises as Force India and Racing Point, he believes Red Bull’s approach to driver evaluation differs from that of other teams on the grid.
“There is always pressure in Formula One, but you have to remember that we are at the top of the sport,” Perez said on the Beyond The Grid podcast.
“There’s always pressure, and you have to deliver in all conditions and races, which is normal.
“But at Red Bull, things have altered a bit. I mean, there’s a reason why a lot of drivers haven’t survived: the amount of pressure, the amount of attention on yourself, they don’t measure the same, all the teams – I feel like how they measure at Red Bull is different than everyone else’s.”
Perez and his position at Red Bull came under scrutiny when he experienced a mid-season dip in form last year, causing him to fall dramatically out of title contention, to the point where he struggled to finish on the podium while teammate Verstappen was winning races on his way to a third World Championship.
While analysts voiced their thoughts, the outcry on social media became louder, and Red Bull assured him that his contract would be honored until 2024.
Despite this, he did not allow the criticism to affect him in such a way, and he attempts to distance himself from public opinion, particularly on social media.
“I believe I am privileged since I am older and grew up before social media. It can be really harmful, so I avoid it whenever possible,” he explained.
“All I can do is make sure I’m able to come here, perform my job, give it my all, and prepare as best I can.
“I can try 1000 times, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is to work with your team and attempt to deliver; the outside noise will always be there, and there’s nothing you can do about it. But be sure you can shut it down.”
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