Following his enforced sabbatical, Sergio Pérez has not only rediscovered his passion for the sport but also found a new challenge with the newly formed Cadillac F1 team. The Mexican driver candidly reflects on his forced break and shares what he learned from observing Formula 1 from a distance.
Pérez had a tough 2024 at Red Bull. While his teammate Max Verstappen clinched the world title, Pérez finished eighth in the championship. At the end of the season, he had to leave the team, despite having a contract that ran until 2025. Only now does the Mexican realize how necessary his enforced break was, especially after that challenging last half-year at Red Bull. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but I really needed that break,” he says. “In this sport, you’re constantly being swept along. You’re always looking ahead: to next year, the next race, your next contract. But as soon as you’re forced to stop – like I was – you start to see things differently and look at the sport with fresh eyes.”
According to Pérez, this reset has given him back his joy. “My last six months at Red Bull were very difficult in every respect. I was slowly losing my motivation, and that shouldn’t happen. This sport has given me everything. If I ever stop, I want to do so with a big smile and with respect for what Formula 1 has brought me.”
Although Pérez enjoyed the time to himself, he found himself missing Formula 1. “The first few months were great,” he reflects. “I realized I missed Formula 1 because I kept following it. I even still woke up early for the races. Then I thought: okay, I might miss this more than I expected.” This renewed hunger fits perfectly with his fresh start at Cadillac, which is set to debut in Formula 1 in 2026. Pérez sees his new challenge as a unique opportunity. “It feels amazing. Looking back, it was almost a dream scenario: taking a year off, resetting yourself… and now I have all the energy to return, work with the team, and help push it forward on all fronts.”
Important Lessons
The break has given Pérez a broader perspective on the sport. “When you’re in that Formula 1 bubble, as a driver you worry about so many things. You’re never satisfied because you think there was a tenth to be found somewhere. You forget to enjoy it. While we are actually privileged to do what we love the most. That was the biggest lesson for me: you have to keep appreciating the sport. We are so competitive and so focused on performing at our best, that you forget to enjoy it. This is my last big project in the sport. I want to make sure it’s a successful comeback.”
