Ahead of the 2026 F1 Monaco GP, Sergio Pérez opened up on how his difficult final months at Red Bull affected his confidence, saying his recent performances have helped him prove to himself that his speed never disappeared.
Before the weekend in Monte Carlo, Sergio Pérez reflected on the mental challenge of returning to form following a tough spell in his career. The Mexican explained that the right environment remains key for any driver to show his full level.
His comments came as he looked back on a period that had left him with doubts, not only because of the results, but because of how quickly confidence can fade when performances do not reflect a driver’s own expectations.
Pérez says Red Bull F1 struggles affected his confidence
Pérez admitted that, from the outside, his performances during his final six months with Red Bull in 2024 did not show his true level. However, he felt the situation needed more context than the results alone provided.
“When you look at my last six months at Red Bull, you wouldn’t think that I’m one of the best out there,” Pérez said. “But when you understand the circumstances I was at at that point, and the people that understand performance at the end of the day, when you see the level of performance that I’m putting with my team, you realise that I’m one of the best out there. At the end of the day, you require the right circumstances for your talent to be able to show it.”
For Pérez, that point became central to his recovery. Rather than seeing his difficult spell as proof that his level had dropped, he now viewed it as an example of how much a driver’s surroundings can influence performance.
The Mexican said rebuilding that belief had become an important part of his F1 comeback. While results mattered, he also needed to feel that he could still produce the speed and consistency he expected from himself.
“In that regard, I’m very pleased I came back and proved it to myself,” he added. “At the end of the day, I came with myself as a driver. You want to have that confidence in you.”
Ferrari F1 test gave Pérez a key confidence boost
Sergio Pérez pointed to his first run in Ferrari machinery as one of the moments that helped change his mindset.
After time away from driving, he said his ability to get up to speed quickly gave him an important reminder of his own level. It also helped him separate his Red Bull struggles from the wider question of whether he still had the pace to compete at the front.
“When I went back, it kind of hurt you on the confidence side when you start to struggle,” Pérez said. “The way I struggled in my last period at Red Bull hurts you confidentially.
“When I jumped in the Ferrari and I was up to speed within ten laps after not driving anything, I was like, you know, it must be the circumstances I was in.“
Pérez says recent pace ahead of 2026 Monaco GP proved the speed was still there
That moment appeared to give Pérez the reassurance he needed. Instead of carrying the doubts from his Red Bull exit into the next phase of his career, he used the experience as evidence that the speed was still there.
He then pointed to his recent performances as further confirmation. With the 2026 F1 Monaco GP still to come, Pérez felt his qualifying and race pace over the previous rounds had shown that his form had not disappeared. The six-time race winner has significantly outpaced
“And then the last three or four races, the level of performance that I’m able to put, qualifying, race pace, makes me feel like the speed has been always there. There are a lot of circumstances as a driver you cannot control when you are struggling with so many different pictures.”
Pérez believes circumstances can shape a driver’s F1 form
For Pérez, the turnaround carried a wider message. He believed his experience could help other drivers who go through difficult spells and begin to question whether they are the problem.
In his view, poor form does not always tell the full story. Confidence, environment and circumstances can all shape how a driver performs, even at the highest level of motorsport.
“So it’s a great boost of confidence and a great example to a lot of drivers that go through it. It makes you feel like maybe I’m the problem and I’m not really as good as I used to be. But it’s all about the circumstances around you.”
