Sergio Perez pulls back the curtain on the silver lining of getting fired by Red Bull

Cadillac's 2026 F1 driver Sergio Perez was sacked by Red Bull Racing after the 2024 season. The Mexican driver had two subpar seasons, especially in comparison to his former teammate Max Verstappen. As Checo prepares to make a comeback next season, he revealed the positive side of getting fired by the Milton-Keynes outfit.

Sergio Perez signed with Red Bull in 2021 as Alex Albon’s replacement following the troublesome stint by multiple drivers in the second RB seat. While the 2021 and 2022 seasons were relatively good for the Mexican driver, he struggled massively in his last two years with the team.

While Verstappen was winning races, it was difficult for Checo to even make the Top 5. Despite signing a new contract with the team midway through 2024, Perez was sacked after the end of the season. With the sacking coming late, no seats were available, and the Mexican sat out the 2025 season.

F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2024 Qualifying - Source: Getty

As Cadillac's F1 entry was confirmed for 2026, Checo’s name popped up as one of the contenders for the seat. Soon, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas were announced as the driver lineup for the American team. The Mexican driver recently came out and detailed how the Red Bull pushed him to take a break from the sport, get rejuvenated, and that he is coming back to the sport with full energy.

“When the conversation started with Cadillac and we could see that passion for racing, then, yeah, I felt like I still have something left in me. Now that I look back, it was like a dream scenario, being able to take a year out and then get that refreshment,” said Sergio Perez (via F1's official website) “After 15 years or so in Formula 1 to get that refreshment and then have all the energy again for what I see as my final stint in the sport. I have all the energy now to get back to it, to work with the team, to push the team forwards in all areas, on the simulator. It’s a new team so we’re starting basically from zero,” he added

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Sergio Perez reveals Cadillac's target expectations from its debut F1 season

The Cadillac F1 project has been in work for multiple years, considering the GM and Andretti Global involvement in it. Sergio Perez was questioned about his ambition and expectations from Cadillac in 2026. Speaking about the same, the Mexican driver said,

“To me, it's a bit irrelevant where we start. What is more important is how quickly we are able to progress. I want to push the team forward from day one. I think we will be able to surprise a lot of people. That's a target for us, to be able to have a strong impact in Formula 1 since day one.”

Checo has been in the simulator, putting in the hours, and has also tested the 2023 Ferrari as part of the American deal’s contract with the Maranello-based team.

Edited by Pranay Bhagi