Checo Pérez praised Franco Colapinto's talent and the endurance of the Argentine fans

A few months before the start of a new Formula 1 season, Sergio "Checo" Pérez once again put the spotlight on Franco Colapinto. On the eve of his return to the category with the Cadillac team, the Mexican driver strongly praised the Argentine and said he was struck by the massive support he receives from the fans.

The statements were made during his appearance on Cracks Podcast, where Pérez spoke after his year away from the top category. In that context, he devoted some time to analyzing Colapinto's growth and the support that surrounded him during a difficult year.

"I'm impressed with the Argentine fans, how they support Franco," said the Mexican, who didn't hold back praise for the 22-year-old driver. "He's a fantastic driver," he added when referring to the level he has shown since his debut with Williams in 2024 and his subsequent move to Alpine in 2025. 

Pérez also used the comparison to make a self-criticism about the relationship between Mexican athletes and their public. "He has his entire country supporting him. I think it's something that (Mexicans) really have to learn from," he stated. In the same vein, he went into more detail: "As a country it's something we have to improve a lot. We have to support our athletes in good times and in bad times."

His time at Red Bull

The conversation also led to a review of Pérez's recent career, especially his departure from Red Bull Racing and his coexistence with his teammate, Max Verstappen. The Mexican was blunt when he described the team's internal situation: "Being Max's teammate is very difficult, but being Max's teammate at Red Bull is the worst job there is in Formula 1."

According to what he recounted, Christian Horner made it clear to him from the beginning that the project was designed around the Dutchman: "This project has been created for Max, he's our talent."

Pérez explained that this context affected his performance and his confidence, even in seasons with positive results. "When you have a car with which you're thinking about which corner you're going to crash in, you can't go fast. And on top of that you have your entire team publicly against you," he stated

while he described an atmosphere of constant tension: "At Red Bull everything was a problem, if I was faster than Max it was a problem. Because a very tense environment was created if I was faster. If I was slower it was a problem, everything was a problem."

Despite all the problems, Pérez said he has found peace after his departure: "Obviously I felt sad, but I knew it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was very much at peace with myself because I gave everything to the team and Red Bull gave everything to me."