[Saba Sports News] Former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez recently reminisced about an interesting episode from his early days with the team, revealing that the team had suggested he seek psychological counseling, with a single phone consultation costing up to £6,000. Ultimately, this fee was covered by Red Bull executive Helmut Marko.
Records show that Perez raced for the Red Bull F1 team from 2021 to 2024, during which he achieved most of his career podium wins. However, at the beginning of his tenure, he struggled to adapt to the rhythm of the Red Bull car. In the first five races of the 2021 season, Perez didn’t manage to reach the podium. As a result, the team advised him to try psychological counseling in hopes of helping him regain his form quickly.
In a podcast, Perez jokingly mentioned that he only attended one consultation, and when he returned to the factory, he was informed about a £6,000 bill. He immediately instructed the staff to pass the bill to Marko and humorously told him, “The counseling was very effective; once was enough.” Surprisingly, after that, Perez’s performance did indeed improve, culminating in a victory at the sixth round, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
In my view, this anecdote from Perez not only carries a humorous tone but also reflects the immense pressure he faced while at the Red Bull team.