Red Bull's No. 2 trials: A journey of teammate challenges
ABU DHABI, UAE – In the highly competitive world of Formula 1, being Max Verstappen's teammate has proven to be one of the toughest challenges in motorsport. The latest casualty in this demanding role is Sergio Pérez, whose departure from Red Bull Racing was announced earlier this week.
"Obviously the benchmark is always your teammate," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner commented in Abu Dhabi. "And the car has won nine races with Max [Verstappen] at the wheel."
Pérez, a driver known for his resilience and racecraft, found himself unable to secure a single victory throughout the season, becoming a shadow of his former self. This struggle is not unique to Pérez. The race-winning prowess of Daniel Ricciardo, and the high expectations placed on juniors like Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, were also ground down by the pressure of competing alongside Verstappen.
Daniel Ricciardo: Verstappen's teammate 2016-18
Head-to-head qualifying record vs. Verstappen: 24-34
Head-to-head race record vs. Verstappen: 21-35
May 15, 2016: Ricciardo initially dominated at Red Bull in 2016, but Verstappen's stunning debut victory at the Spanish Grand Prix began to shift the focus.
July 30, 2017: Tensions surfaced in Hungary when Ricciardo was crashed out by Verstappen, highlighting brewing frustrations within the team. “Was that who I think it was?” Ricciardo asked on team radio, signaling rising hostilities.
Oct. 20, 2017: Verstappen secured a new, higher-paying contract, stirring speculation about Ricciardo's future.
April 29, 2018: A major crash in Azerbaijan further strained the relationship, with Ricciardo feeling unjustly blamed for the incident.
Aug. 3, 2018: Ricciardo shocked the paddock by announcing his move to Renault, stepping away from what many believed to be a losing battle for team support.
Pierre Gasly: Verstappen's teammate 2019
Head-to-head qualifying record vs. Verstappen: 1-11
Head-to-head race record vs. Verstappen: 1-11
Feb. 28, 2019: Gasly's struggles began early in the season, crashing heavily during testing, raising concerns.
July 28, 2019: The German GP highlighted his difficulties, as he crashed twice while Verstappen secured a memorable win.
Aug. 12, 2019: Gasly was demoted back to Toro Rosso after consistent underperformance, being replaced by Alex Albon.
Alex Albon: Verstappen's teammate 2019-20
Head-to-head qualifying record vs. Verstappen: 1-25
Head-to-head race record vs. Verstappen: 8-17
Aug. 1, 2020: Despite a promising start, Albon struggled with increasing gaps in performance to Verstappen, leading to a change in race engineers.
Sept. 26, 2020: The Russian GP exemplified his difficulties, qualifying significantly slower than Verstappen.
Dec. 18, 2020: After finishing distant from Verstappen in Abu Dhabi, Albon was replaced by Pérez for the following season.
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Head-to-head qualifying record vs. Verstappen: 10-79
Head-to-head race record vs. Verstappen: 10-80
May 31, 2022: Although starting strong with a win in Monaco, Pérez’s form did not persist, with Verstappen dominating the season.
May 7, 2023: Pérez's hopes of individual glory faded in Miami despite starting on pole, being overtaken by Verstappen.
June 4, 2024: A new two-year contract in June 2024 did little to restore Péréz’s confidence, resulting in poor performances.
Oct. 27, 2024: A disappointing home GP in Mexico City intensified speculation about his future.
Dec. 8, 2024: After a dismal season finale in Abu Dhabi, Pérez's exit from the team was confirmed as he failed to finish in the top five since Monaco.
Future of Red Bull's No. 2 Seat
Christian Horner recently reflected on the tough decision to part ways with Pérez. "It's tough to see, but the right call for Sergio Perez to give up his Red Bull seat."
With Verstappen’s dominance casting a long shadow, it remains a formidable task for any driver stepping into Red Bull’s second seat. As the team looks ahead to 2025, the challenge continues: finding a teammate who can not only compete but thrive alongside Formula 1’s next all-time great.
