Perez 'has nothing to prove' and points to Red Bull's underwhelming successors

Sergio Perez says he has nothing to prove on his return to Formula 1. According to the Mexican, the results of his predecessors and successors at Red Bull Racing speak for themselves.

By the end of 2024, Sergio Perez had to make way at Red Bull Racing. The difference with Max Verstappen kept growing and the management, despite a contract extended at the beginning of 2024, felt it was time for a change. Perez's contract was bought out to put Liam Lawson in the car.

The story is now well known. Lawson was able to return to Racing Bulls after just two Grands Prix and Yuki Tsunoda is still doing worse than 'Checo' did in his last and worst season with the Austrian team. It sheds a very different light on Perez's performances.

During a press moment by Cadillac with a select group of media including GPblog, Perez was asked whether he needed to prove less given the performances of Tsunoda and Lawson. After all, they are proof that Perez did not perform as poorly at Red Bull as was thought.

Sergio Perez will partner Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac

Does Perez have something to prove at Cadillac?

''I don't feel like there's nothing to prove, not just because of the current drivers or the next drivers that were on my seat,'' Perez told media, including GPBlog.

''But even before that, now everyone forgets about it. It's been a very tricky place to be in, to constantly be adapting, to build confidence mentally. It's a very unique challenge.''

The former Red Bull driver added: ''I don't think I have anything to prove. When you see like The amount of points they've scored, is like five points in the entire season.''

''I don't think I've got nothing to prove in that regard. To me, it's more of a coming back to enjoy the sport. I want to enjoy the sport that I love, the sport that has given me so much.''

Finally, Perez added: ''I couldn't afford to leave the way I left the sport, and this is why I'm coming back with this new project. And I hope it's a very successful one. But amongst that, more than anything I want to enjoy. I want to enjoy this comeback.''

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