Sergio Perez delivers verdict on Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull woes

Sergio Perez has offered his first thoughts on the struggles of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull since replacing him.

Perez was dropped by Red Bull after a dismal final season in 2024, in which he scored just 48 points in the final 17 races, being replaced as Max Verstappen's team-mate by Liam Lawson.

Lawson himself was axed after just two races in favour of Tsunoda without scoring a point, with Tsunoda posting just seven points in 12 races, three of which came in the Miami Sprint.

He has not scored a point since 10th at Imola, with Verstappen hauling a total of 187 of Red Bull's 194 points. 

Analysing the situation following his announcement as a 2026 Cadillac driver, Perez felt the struggles of Lawson and Tsunoda had made people "realise" how strong his performances were.

"It is just the whole dynamics of the team, they have a unique talent with Max and when you get there, the development curve they have, it is very difficult for the second driver to adapt to the car," Perez told Sky Sports F1.

 "It is a very, very unique car which requires a very unique driving style that I managed to survive for many years, but it is difficult with the way it works. 

"You've seen it with great drivers before my time and even after my time, I mean, think Yuki and Liam have scored like five points (Tsunoda has seven, Lawson 0), so it is very difficult and very tricky. 

"They're fantastic drivers, but it is just the way to drive that car is very unique, and sometimes I could cope with it, and adapt, but as soon as there was a variable with the rain, with the wind, it just became undrivable.

"Then you start making mistakes one after the other, you are losing confidence, but mentally I was super strong, and that is why I survived there for so long. 

"I had a lot of pressure and a lot of [the media] were onto me, and now you realise the job I did in that car and that team."