Imagine paying £6,000 for a single hour of therapy. Sounds outrageous, right? But that’s exactly what Red Bull’s Sergio Perez did during his time with the Formula 1 team. In a recent interview, Perez revealed that Red Bull encouraged him to seek psychological support early in his tenure, even footing the bill for a session that cost a staggering £6,000. And this is the part most people miss—it wasn’t just about the money; it was about the pressure, the expectations, and the mental toll of racing alongside a dominant teammate like Max Verstappen.
Perez joined Red Bull in 2021, stepping into a role that had proven challenging for predecessors Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon. While Verstappen secured 10 grand prix wins and a world title that year, Perez managed just one victory. The Mexican driver recalled, ‘As soon as I arrived at Red Bull, in the first races, when I didn’t deliver results, they told me, “What you need is a psychologist, you have to see a psychologist.”’ So, he did. But here’s where it gets controversial—when the bill arrived, Perez jokingly suggested sending it to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, quipping, ‘He’ll pay it.’ Marko later checked in, asking how the session went, to which Perez replied, ‘Perfect, with this session we’re all set.’ And, surprisingly, the results began to improve.
But was it the therapy, or was it something else? Perez’s performance did pick up, but he still struggled to match Verstappen’s pace, particularly in 2024 when he faced challenges with the RB20 car. ‘I looked for help everywhere,’ Perez admitted, ‘but deep down, I knew that when you’re constantly worrying about crashing or what the car will do, you can’t go fast. And on top of that, you have your whole team against you. Publicly, it was very difficult.’ This raises a thought-provoking question: How much of a driver’s success is mental, and how much is simply about the machinery they’re given?
Despite these challenges, Perez remains a consistent podium finisher and occasional race winner. After sitting out the 2025 season, the 36-year-old is set to return to F1 in 2026 with the new Cadillac outfit. His journey highlights the immense mental fortitude required in Formula 1—a sport where even the smallest doubt can cost you seconds on the track.
What do you think? Is £6,000 for an hour of therapy justifiable in high-pressure environments like F1? Or is it an excessive luxury? Let us know in the comments below!
