Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has made a compelling case for Sergio Perez’s Formula 1 future, one that involves an American team, a fresh start, and perhaps a bit of redemption.
After a troubled 2024 season with Red Bull Racing that saw Perez massively underperform his championship winning teammate Max Verstappen, the Mexican was dismissed by the team and replaced by young gun Liam Lawson.
However, ahead of Cadillac’s arrival in F1 in 2026, Steiner sees a perfect opportunity for Perez as well as for the American outfit which will need at least one experienced driver gracing its line-up from the outset.
“If you’re Cadillac, you need somebody experienced,” Steiner told GPblog. “Checo has been in quite a few teams for a long time. He knows his way around. He could be a big help.”
A Rocky Road at Red Bull
For Perez, the past two seasons at Red Bull have been a whirlwind of highs and lows—strong performances followed by frustrating inconsistencies that ultimately led to his ousting.
But Steiner believes Cadillac would present an environment where the 35-year-old could rediscover his form without the suffocating pressure of a title-challenging team.
“Maybe put him on a one-year contract, it’s a lot better than having old rookies in there. That’s an opportunity for Checo,” the Italian added.
“And by then, a year of digesting the beating from Max [Verstappen], he recovers from the Dutch beating, so it could bring him to a better place again.
“I would say he could have value for Cadillac.”
The suggestion of a “Dutch beating” is classic Steiner – blunt, humorous, but with a kernel of truth. Verstappen’s dominance has cast a long shadow over Perez, and the mental toll of going up against a generational talent has been evident.
But in a less demanding scenario, Steiner is convinced Perez could thrive.
Back to His Best in a Less Demanding Environment
“Wait a moment,” Steiner interjected, anticipating potential criticism. “I don’t want to be cynical here. He was up at the front of the grid last year.”
He acknowledged Perez’s struggles at Red Bull but offered a nuanced perspective.
“We need to be realistic. Fighting for one point because the car cannot be better is one thing, but fighting for one point when your team-mate with the same car is winning races puts you in a different headspace, it’s a different pressure.”
Steiner points to Perez’s past performances at Force India and Racing Point as evidence of what he can do in a midfield team.
The six-time Grand Prix winner was often a driver who punched above his weight, seizing podiums and even a race win in a car that had no business being at the front.
That, Steiner argues, is where Perez is at his best.
“Checo was very good when he was at Force India Racing, whatever it was called, Racing Point. He always overdelivered as an underdog,” Steiner continued.
“He couldn’t keep up with the pressure of the top team.”
Steiner’s assessment is as frank as it is intriguing. While he believes that Red Bull’s cutthroat environment ultimately proved too much for Perez, a team like Cadillac – without the expectation of immediate race wins – could allow him to regain his confidence and consistency.
“So maybe it’s his comfort zone where he has not got that pressure to need to show that he’s good, by winning, by showing that ‘I can make a point’, maybe that puts him in a better place.”
Read also: The road not taken: Horner on Red Bull’s Perez decision
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