P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Sergio Perez departed the Red Bull F1 team at the end of the 2024 campaign.
Sergio Perez shared details about his final conversation with former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner before leaving the team in 2024. Perez spent four years racing alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, but his performance declined towards the end of his tenure. He expressed the belief that no driver can thrive at Red Bull while Verstappen is present and shaping the team’s direction. Perez conveyed this sentiment to Horner when it was decided he would be leaving. Perez expressed gratitude to Horner, suggesting that anyone replacing him would face significant challenges within the team. Horner himself was eventually replaced as team principal during the 2025 season. Perez is currently sidelined but has already secured a drive with the new Cadillac team for 2026. Despite the difficult ending to his time at Red Bull, Perez sees his departure as a positive development, stating that the demanding conditions at Red Bull made it the best outcome for him.
