Former Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez has shared his thoughts on the end of his former employer Red Bull’s dominant era. According to the Mexican, the problems for the Austrians began when Adrian Newey left the racing team. Pérez also reveals what team boss Christian Horner told the Mexican during his contract negotiations five years ago.
Adrian Newey announced in 2024 that he would be leaving the Red Bull team after nearly twenty years of loyal service. The top designer wanted a new challenge and found it at Aston Martin. Interestingly, since Newey’s departure, Red Bull has also lost its dominant position in the field. Former Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez believes there is certainly a connection.
“We didn’t dominate in an era like Mercedes did, thanks to their engine advantage,” the Mexican explains in the Desde el Paddock podcast. “Our advantage was smaller and we had a great team. When Adrian Newey left, I believe the problems started. Then Jonathan Wheatley also left, who played an important role in the team.” Wheatley left Red Bull for Sauber/Audi at the end of 2024.
Team Dynamics
Pérez himself also had to leave at the end of 2024 after a series of disappointing performances. This was a stark contrast to four years earlier, when the Mexican was contracted to replace the struggling Alexander Albon. Pérez reflects on that moment.
“When I first met Christian (Horner) in person, he said: ‘Look, we’re a team that races with two cars because we have to race with two cars,'” says the Mexican. “‘We could easily race with just Max.’ That was when Alex was there. I knew Alex was a great driver. I told Christian: ‘We can race with two cars again if you hire me,’ and he laughed. From that moment, I understood a lot about how the team worked.”
