"If you bring Hamilton or Leclerc they're going to struggle alongside Max Verstappen," says former teammate Sergio Perez.

Returning to the grid next season with Cadillac, Perez attended the Mexico City Grand Prix at the weekend.

As he smiled, engaged with the fans and greeted former colleagues he cut an entirely different figure to the broken man we saw just a year ago, a man clearly drowning and barely able to hang on.

At Cadillac he will be partnered by another popular veteran, Valtteri Bottas, but it is the man who helped break him that Perez wants to talk about, especially at a time Red Bull is considering who will partner the Dutchman next season.

It's a difficult place," the Mexican told Sky Sports. "Being next to Max is very difficult, but being next to Max in Red Bull is something people don't understand.

"There's so many things I could tell you," he continued, "but simply it's a very difficult job for a driver.

"There is no driver that can survive there," he insisted. "It doesn't matter if you bring Hamilton or Leclerc, whoever you bring there, they're going to struggle massively.

"It's a very unique driving style," he added, "you have to constantly be adapting to the needs of Max, simple as that."

Referring to Liam Lawson, who got just two outings before being demoted again, Perez said: "I don't like criticizing the drivers that have been there because I was in that position, I know exactly what they're going through.

"The minute I signed my exit with Red Bull, when we came to an agreement, I knew that the 'poor guy that comes here', because I managed to survive for a while."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Chester, 31/10/2025 9:40

"None of the drivers paired with Verstappen have been that great. Favored son? Who in their right mind would not prioritize a driver who produces results?

Without naming anyone in particular, there are other drivers on the grid who could compete well with Verstappen as his teammate.

But I do suspect any of those pairings would result in a disparity in points like we have with the Ferrari team mates. "

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 29/10/2025 15:38

"One of life's great unknowns.
At various times other drivers, including Sergio, have performed at, or close to the same level. Some have beaten Max in the same car.
As an outsider who is not a big fan of Verstappen Inc. it does appear he is very much the favoured son & drivers who haven't been happy to play 2nd fiddle were axed. Similarly the RBR car in the GE era has developed very much to suit his style: to the extent they overdid it & although it was fast, it was inconsistent.
Now we appear to have a more 'normal' car & Yuki seems able to cope better. Whatever they've don it's clearly goinmg to give McLaren a run for their money...."

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3. Posted by Anthony, 29/10/2025 12:54

"Sensib;e comments from Sergio. I think that Max is in a league of his own "

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4. Posted by Jean-Pierre, 28/10/2025 17:27

"LH would not after several races to get use to the car, if the car would not be made to MV's specific driving style, of course. In the same car, my money is on LH, and i'm not sure that LN, GR and FA would not be at least as fast."

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No driver can survive with Verstappen, says Perez

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