Sergio Perez says the struggles skilled by second drivers at Pink Bull present he has nothing to show on his return to Method 1 with Cadillac.
Cadillac introduced that its first driver line-up will consist of Perez and Valtteri Bottas when it joins the grid in 2026, bringing collectively two drivers with a mixed 16 victories and 527 race begins. Whereas Bottas has been with Mercedes as a reserve driver this yr, Perez returns after being dropped by Pink Bull late final season, whereas the 2 drivers to comply with him – Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda – have each additionally struggled.
“I do not really feel like there’s something to show, not simply due to the present drivers or the subsequent drivers that had been in my seat, however even earlier than that,” Perez mentioned. “Now everybody forgets about it, however it’s been a really difficult place to be in, to continually be adapting, to construct confidence mentally.
“It is a very distinctive problem. And I do not suppose I’ve something to show, while you see like the quantity of factors that they’ve scored, it is like 5 factors in your entire season. So I do not suppose I’ve received something to show in that regard.
“To me, it is extra… coming again to benefit from the sport. I wish to benefit from the sport, the game that I really like, the game that has given me a lot. I could not afford to depart the way in which I left the game, and because of this I am coming again with this new mission. I hope it is a very profitable one, however amongst that, greater than something, I wish to take pleasure in this comeback.”
Perez has not been concerned in Method 1 this season and says the break was wanted to assist him uncover what would enticed him to return, citing the distinctive problem of Cadillac’s new entry as significantly motivating.
“For me, it was essential to have this break day of the game, particularly as a result of it solely turned clear in the direction of the top of the yr that I used to be not going to proceed with Pink Bull. So as a substitute of leaping into one thing only for staying on the grid, I wanted that point. That point again to disconnect myself from the game a bit and to grasp what I really need subsequent in my profession.
“It wasn’t very clear for me to start with, particularly the primary couple of months, what I needed to do subsequent. And the extra I used to be speaking to the Cadillac staff, the extra it turned obvious that that is what excites me to come back again, it is the mission itself. It isn’t simply going again to the grid with an everyday staff to struggle for podiums and races and factors. This can be a entire mission. The dynamic, I really feel, is completely different.
“And I noticed that I take pleasure in coaching! I all the time thought I hated it. However this time that I had off, it made me understand that I actually take pleasure in coaching. So I have been in the identical match [shape]. Clearly, I have never pushed something for some time apart from karting with my son. However there may be some plans with the staff to check a Method 1 automotive earlier than the top of the yr.
“And clearly subsequent yr with a lot testing that we will have, it may make that mud go away extraordinarily rapidly. I do know what Method 1 is about, and I will likely be able to ship from the primary race onwards.”
