Sergio Perez has contended that even Lewis Hamilton would struggle against Max Verstappen due to the “unique” way Red Bull tailors its Formula 1 cars.
The Mexican reached the end of his tenure with the Milton Keynes-based squad at the end of last year, putting his 13-year F1 career into a year-long hiatus.
Despite having got nearer than any other team-mate of Verstappen since Daniel Ricciardo, Perez still was unable to get to the same level as the Dutchman.
And when last year’s RB20 proved to be more of a handful than its predecessors, the gulf between Verstappen and Perez grew wider.
But speaking to Sky F1, Perez revealed that Red Bull’s one-track focus on Verstappen and his own driving style is what is rendering all his team-mates to suffer.
“I don’t like criticising drivers that have been there because I was in that position and I know exactly what they are going through,” he said.
“The minute I signed my exit from Red Bull, when we came to an agreement, I knew ‘poor guy, who comes here, it’s a very difficult place’.
“Being next to Max is very difficult, but being next to Max in Red Bull is something people don’t understand.
“There are so many things I could tell you, but it is simply a very difficult job for a driver.
“No driver can survive there. It doesn’t matter if you bring Hamilton, Leclerc. Whoever you bring there is going to struggle massively.
“It’s a very unique driving style. You have to constantly be adapting to the needs of Max. It’s as simple as that.”
Verstappen keeps ‘everyone watching F1’
Perez will return to the grid next year with the nascent Cadillac team, as it embarks on its first F1 season, joining the grid as the 11th team, alongside fellow veteran Valtteri Bottas.
Despite the harsh nature of his dismissal from Red Bull, Perez and Verstappen had always appeared to enjoy a cordial relationship, and he was full of praise for the reigning World Champion, discussing his outside shot at the Drivers’ title.
“Max has been the action of the year. He’s keeping everyone watching F1,” he said.
“Somehow, they have transformed the season and with McLaren messing around, he has a chance of getting it done.
“I think he’s the driver who deserves the championship the most because he’s been driving phenomenally.”
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