Sergio Perez admits he had a ‘terrible season’ as he sought ‘massive change’

Sergio Perez believes the Mexico City Grand Prix result could mean a “huge” change to his 2024 F1 season, which he deemed “terrible”.

Perez started the 2024 F1 season well with 85 points from the first five Grand Prix weekends, but has since scored just 65 points in the 14 rounds.

Sergio Perez: F1 2024 was very difficult

With Perez scoring consistent podium finishes in the first quarter of the season, the Mexican Drivers’ Championship collapsed after China. Points have become spotty, let alone podium finishes, and he has dropped to eighth in the overall standings, with teammate Max Verstappen leading the way.

Perez’s poor performances have left the team behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship, and he admitted it was a poor season in terms of his own performance.

“Yes, for sure, I know I had a terrible season, a very difficult season,” he told the media, including PlanetF1.com, at the press conference ahead of his home race at the Mexico City Grand Prix.

“It started really well, but yes, it was really difficult.”

But Perez, who is under heavy scrutiny as his Red Bull seat is certainly not safe for F1 2025 despite his contract extension earlier this year, said he thinks a big result this weekend could transform his season.

“For me, you know, if I get a strong result, it can definitely change my season a lot, in terms of personal feeling. So I’m really ready,” he said, hoping to repeat his 2021 podium finish by bringing his young son along.

“I think that moment will stay with me forever, with my son up there on the stage watching me,” he said.

“It’s something I hope he will remember forever. If not, at least I’ll have the picture to show him when he’s old, you know?

“I think those moments are the moments that really matter to me, and I hope I can repeat them this weekend.”

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Sergio Perez: It’s all about your last race in F1

Perez looked set to break his fate by returning to the podium in Azerbaijan last month before a late-race collision between himself and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz ended the attempt.

He has since dropped back to upper midfield and said he believes the momentum is not on his side – and that it is very difficult to get it back once it has faded.

“I think momentum in Formula 1 is very important,” he said, “when you just put the car on the track and you know everything works, and you get further ahead of the people who have the car on the track and many problems.

“I think it’s the same for everyone, but I also know how these sports work and it’s all about your last race.

“So if I get a good one here – I got a good one in Baku, but it didn’t work – if I get a good one here, then my season can definitely turn around.

“The most important thing is that we can feel comfortable with the car, but at the moment we are just not able to use the car’s full potential.

“We come to the weekends and try a lot of things, different things, every weekend, and that makes the whole Grand Prix a lot more difficult.”

Despite his trials, Perez says he is confident he can turn things around before it’s too late. With Red Bull’s RB20 going off the boil mid-season as the car’s development trajectory made it uncomfortable for both Perez and Verstappen to drive, recent races have suggested that the team has steadied the ship in terms of the performance of the car.

“I feel like as a team I’m in the same boat, we’re working to solve it. We found a big problem in Monza,” he said.

“So after Monza we thought we were finding direction. So we are going in the right direction.

“This is Formula 1. Sometimes the results don’t come and you just have to make sure you keep your head down.

“You focus on the things you can control, and the rest is something you can’t worry about.”

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