Sergio Perez. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Perez reveals Red Bull stint was not the hardest chapter of his F1 career

15:01, 22 Dec

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byTobia Elia

Sergio Perez has revealed that the toughest period of his career did not come during his time at Red Bull.

“McLaren was very tough because my career was just getting started at the time”

- Sergio Perez

The Mexican revealed during the EXMA press conference that the toughest stint of his career came at McLaren, where he spent just a single season in 2013 alongside Jenson Button, a year marked by several flashpoints both on and off the track.

“McLaren was very tough because my career was just getting started at the time. It was my second year, and that was when I had the chance to sign with three different teams — three big teams. So in your second season you think you’re going to dominate F1, that it’s already too small for you, and that everyone wants you. You make a decision, and then you realise you made the wrong one.”

Perez was coming off a superb season with Sauber the year before, where he scored several podiums and came agonisingly close to victory in Malaysia.

Photo: Race Pictures

A mistake on a wet track ultimately opened the door for Fernando Alonso to claim his first win of the season with Ferrari, despite the car not being truly competitive enough to fight for victories at the time.

“I went from being the hot driver in Formula 1 to having no seat for the following year, and I had only been in Formula 1 for three seasons. So heading into what would have been my fourth season, I didn’t have a drive. Fortunately, thank God, a great opportunity opened up at Force India, and I was able to build a very good story from there.”

Perez makes latest Red Bull confession a year after sacking

Speaking at the same press conference, Perez admitted he knew from the outset what his role within the team would be, and that there was little he could do to “go against the system.”

Even so, the Mexican said he remains grateful for having been given such an opportunity in his career. He is now set to embark on a new chapter with Cadillac, where he will partner Valtteri Bottas in what is shaping up to be the most experienced line-up on the grid.

Read his full quotes here.

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