Sergio Perez revealed that he had doubts about returning to Formula 1 after leaving Red Bull Racing at the end of 2024, but stated that his performance for Cadillac in 2026 helped restore his confidence. The Mexican believes he has shown himself that he can still compete at a high level.
Read more F1: Fans are divided over Norris’ chances of winning the title in 2026
Back on the grid this season, Perez mainly highlighted the improvement in race pace and qualifying sessions. According to the Mexican driver, the right environment was crucial for him to be able to return to performing close to what he considers his best level.
“I had some doubts about returning to the sport, and I came back very happy because I was able to prove to myself that I am still one of the best out there with the right environment. I can perform at a very high level. I think I proved that to myself,” Perez said.
The Mexican also positively assessed his progress throughout the current season: “I think my race pace has been really strong and my qualifying pace as well. I have been improving more and more. I think I am very, very happy,” he said.
Read more F1: Stroll praises update implemented by Aston Martin in Hungary
Despite being satisfied with his performance on track, Perez pointed out that readapting to the Formula 1 routine after being out in 2025 was the main challenge of his return. The intense calendar and constant travel required a new adjustment after the time away.
“The biggest challenge was getting back into the rhythm of a Formula 1 driver’s schedule, to be honest. At first, I would do a test and then get a message saying I needed to be in another country in two days, and two days later in a different country,” he added.
Perez acknowledged that he had forgotten how demanding the category’s routine is: “You tend to forget what a Formula 1 driver’s life is like, how busy and scheduled everything is, and you live following an agenda. For me, that was the hardest part to resume. But after two or three months, I had no choice, so I got used to it,” he concluded.
