In a revealing interview with Sky Sports, former Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez didn’t hold back when asked about what it takes to be a teammate to Max Verstappen at Red Bull. He proclaimed that even elite drivers such as Lewis Hamilton (and even Charles Leclerc) would “struggle massively” in that role.
What Perez had to say
“No driver can survive there. It doesn’t matter if you bring Hamilton, Leclerc … being next to Max in Red Bull is something people don’t understand.”
He continued:
“Being next to Max is very difficult … the minute I signed my exit from Red Bull … I knew ‘poor guy who comes here, it’s a very difficult place.’”
Pérez’s comments come at an interesting moment: he left Red Bull and is evaluating his next steps in F1, while Red Bull remains highly dominant and there is speculation about the “second seat” alongside Verstappen. With that context, Pérez’s remarks carry weight — both as a reflection on his experience and as a critique of Red Bull’s internal dynamics.
What Pérez Is Really Saying
1. The Car is Built for Verstappen
Pérez argues that Red Bull’s RB series cars and the power unit are tuned “for Max.” He claims any teammate would face huge challenges adapting because the car’s setup, driving style and strategy revolve around Verstappen’s strengths.
2. Intense Internal Pressure & Expectations
Pérez hints at an environment where the pressure to perform is immense:
“When we came to an agreement [to leave] I knew … it’s a very difficult job for a driver.”
He suggests that many don’t appreciate just how fine the margins are inside a top team such as Red Bull, particularly next to a dominant commander like Verstappen.
3. “Survival”, not just Racing
By saying “no driver can survive” the seat next to Verstappen, Pérez implies the role involves more than just driving fast — it’s about coping with media, team expectation, setup compromises, and internal politics.
With 2026 approaching and new driver line-ups forming, the message resonates: even legendary drivers might struggle in that environment.
Is Pérez Right in His Claim about Hamilton?
Arguments in favour
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Hamilton has never been in a true “number-2” role at a team dominated entirely by his teammate; his best years came when he was #1 at Mercedes.
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The driving style of Verstappen is known to be very particular. Adapting to a car set up for someone else is a challenge, and Pérez knows this from experience.
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The psychological element: being in a secondary seat to such a dominant figure adds immense non-driving pressure — team orders, media scrutiny, and internal dynamics can erode performance.
Arguments against
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Hamilton is one of the greatest drivers in F1 history — his ability to adapt and succeed in many different cars is proven. “Struggling” might seem unlikely from that lens.
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Pérez’s remarks are somewhat self-serving: he experienced difficulties at Red Bull and may be framing the narrative to justify them.
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It’s speculative: Hamilton never joined Red Bull during Verstappen’s era, so whether he would “struggle” remains hypothetical.
What It Means for Red Bull & the Grid
For Red Bull, Pérez’s comments feed into the narrative that the second seat is not simply a “chase for wins” role — it’s complex, full of caveats, and possibly under-appreciated. The team’s candidate list for 2026 will no doubt include drivers with speed and adaptability to that unique setup.
On the wider grid, Pérez’s remarks raise questions about driver line-ups, team roles and how top teams manage internal competition. If even someone like Hamilton would find it difficult, what does that say about the demands at the very top?
Final Thoughts
Sergio Pérez’s interview is as much a cautionary tale as it is commentary. By stating that Lewis Hamilton would struggle as Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull, he’s shining a light on the less glamorous side of being in a top seat: constant comparison, setup compromise, psychological stress, driver synergy.
Whether Hamilton would actually struggle is open to debate. But Pérez’s experience gives the claim credibility — and it certainly gives us new insight into what it takes to perform at the very peak of Formula 1.
As F1 heads into driver reshuffles and manufacturer changes for the 2026 era, the statement stands: being next to Max is not just about driving fast. It might be about surviving — and thriving — in a very special kind of pressure cooker.
