Helmut Marko Reacts to Sergio Perez’s Staggering Red Bull Criticism

 Helmut Marko has admitted he was “surprised” by the recent criticism aimed at Red Bull Racing by former driver Sergio Perez, following the Mexican’s outspoken comments about his time with the Milton Keynes-based team.

Perez joined Red Bull ahead of the 2021 Formula 1 season, replacing Alex Albon after finding himself without a seat when Force India opted not to renew his contract. The move effectively revived Perez’s Formula 1 career at a critical point.

Over four seasons with Red Bull, Perez experienced a turbulent but eventful period. He secured five grand prix victories for the team, although he never consistently matched the pace of team-mate Max Verstappen. As performance levels declined sharply in 2024, Red Bull opted to end the partnership at the conclusion of the season.

Perez subsequently spent the 2025 campaign on a sabbatical from Formula 1 before securing a return to the grid with Cadillac, marking the next chapter of his career away from Red Bull.

However, relations between Perez and his former team appear strained. In a recent appearance on the Cracks podcast, Perez delivered a series of pointed remarks about the internal environment he experienced during his time at Red Bull.

“At Red Bull, everything was a problem,” Perez said.
“If I was very fast, it was a problem, because then there was a very tense atmosphere within Red Bull.”

“If I was faster than Max, it was a problem. If I was slower than Max, it was a problem. So everything was a problem.”

“I also learned a lot from that: ‘OK, these are the circumstances I’m in.’”

Throughout his Red Bull tenure, Perez was clearly positioned as the team’s number-two driver. His struggles during the 2024 season were widely viewed as a contributing factor in Red Bull losing the constructors’ championship to McLaren.

Asked to respond to Perez’s comments, Marko offered a contrasting perspective, stressing the context in which Perez joined Red Bull and the opportunities the team provided him.

Speaking to ORF, Marko said he found the remarks unexpected.

“It is somewhat surprising, because we should not forget that Checo Pérez did not have a contract,” Marko said.

“He was fired from the racing team that he practically helped to keep alive.”

Marko also highlighted Perez’s competitive peak during his Red Bull stint, particularly in the early part of the 2022 season.

“I don’t know exactly how many Grand Prix races he won, but especially in 2022 he was in the race for the world championship for a while,” he added.

While acknowledging that Perez’s form eventually deteriorated, Marko maintained that the partnership with Red Bull played a decisive role in shaping the latter stages of the Mexican’s Formula 1 career.

“That he eventually stopped performing had several reasons,” Marko concluded.
“But overall, I think Checo made his career with us.”

The contrasting views underline the complex and often tense dynamics that defined Perez’s four-year tenure at Red Bull. While Perez has spoken openly about the pressure and internal atmosphere he faced, Red Bull continues to view the collaboration as a period that both extended and defined his Formula 1 career.