Perez pushed by Verstappen and the media

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez says that his first season with the team was very intense as he teamed up with Max Verstappen in 2021.

Perez joined Red Bull from Racing Point ahead of the 2021 season after losing his seat to Sebastian Vettel.

It took Perez time to find his feet at Red Bull but when he did, he really stepped up and feels that the pressure applied by Verstappen last season helped him, as did the media’s reaction to him joining the team.

Perez took one victory last season, winning the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku circuit.

Ready for more @SChecoPerez memories in 2022? pic.twitter.com/npYenp1pgo

— Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) January 26, 2022

The Mexican scored a total of 16 top-ten finishes over the course of the season and he feels that it was an intense year going up against Verstappen.

“[It was] very intense. It was extremely intense. A lot of work was done behind the scenes [and there was] a lot of pressure,” said Perez, as quoted by GPFans.

“When you are at Red Bull Racing, the pressure is on and everyone is watching you, what you do.

“[The media] is a lot harder to a Red Bull driver, which is understandable but yeah, it wasn’t easy but it brought me onto another level.

“Having Max as a team-mate, he really pushes you to new levels and makes you really happy.”

Perez was glad to be a part of Red Bull alongside Verstappen, who won his first Formula 1 World Championship last season.

He added: “Having Max as a team-mate, he really pushes you to new levels and makes you really happy.

“I am enjoying it a lot at this point of my career, I am really happy and that is most important.”

Perez will drive alongside Verstappen again in 2022 and will be hoping to improve on his P4 in the Drivers’ Championship last