Sergio Pérez F1 career – Since his debut with Sauber in 2011, Sergio “Checo” Pérez has been a familiar face in Formula 1. From 2015 onwards, the Mexican driver competed for Force India, later rebranded as Racing Point, achieving the team’s best results in its history.
However, in 2020, the team opted to sign Sebastian Vettel for 2021, leaving Pérez without a seat. Fortunately, Pérez secured his future with Red Bull Racing and has been driving alongside Max Verstappen since 2021.
Born on January 26, 1990, in Guadalajara, Mexico, Sergio Pérez hails from a racing family, including his brother Antonio, who participated in Mexican NASCAR series. Pérez’s success as a kart racer caught the attention of billionaire Carlos Slim, whose company Telmex sponsored him for many years in motorsports.
Pérez at Red Bull Racing
Initially facing uncertainty for the 2021 season, Pérez’s strong performance in the latter part of 2020 caught the eye of Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. Marko granted him a spot at Red Bull Racing, replacing the underperforming Alexander Albon as Max Verstappen’s teammate. Pérez was tasked with challenging Verstappen and aiding in the team’s battle against Mercedes.
With Pérez and Verstappen driving the RB16B, Red Bull Racing demonstrated immediate competitiveness in 2021. Although the Mexican driver needed a bit of time to adjust in the first five races, he achieved success in Azerbaijan. In that race, Pérez held off Lewis Hamilton for several laps, eventually securing victory when teammate Verstappen retired from the lead. It was clear: with Pérez, Red Bull Racing regained its competitive edge.
During the final Grand Prix of 2021 in Abu Dhabi, Pérez further proved Red Bull made the right choice. His efforts in holding off Hamilton for several laps played a crucial role in keeping Verstappen’s title chances alive. Ultimately, thanks in part to Pérez’s contributions, Verstappen clinched the world championship.
Pérez’s Rise in Formula 1 with Sauber
While Pérez is now an experienced figure in Formula 1, he was initially recognized as a significant talent. Racing in more mature racing classes as a fifteen-year-old, Pérez made his mark in 2007 by winning the British Formula 3 title. Transitioning to the GP2 series in 2008, he immediately won two races in the Asian championship. In 2010, now in the main GP2 series, Pérez, alongside teammate Giedo van der Garde, won five races but narrowly missed the championship, which went to Pastor Maldonado.
Impressed by Pérez’s performance, Peter Sauber, owner of the Sauber team, gave him his Formula 1 debut in 2011 at the age of 21. After a year of adaptation, Pérez showcased his true potential in 2012. Despite narrowly missing victory in the rain-soaked Malaysian Grand Prix, he secured podium finishes in Canada and Italy. McLaren signed him for 2013, but the collaboration was not successful, leading Pérez to join Force India. There, he consistently demonstrated his ability to capitalize on opportunities, securing podiums when top drivers faltered.
Pérez’s First Win
Between 2014 and 2020, Pérez continued his pattern of podium finishes with Force India, later Racing Point. Notable achievements included third-place finishes in Bahrain (2014), Russia (2015), Monaco and Baku (2016), and Baku again (2018). While 2019 was a less successful year, Pérez rebounded in the second half of the season.
In 2020, driving the RP20, Racing Point’s car, Pérez consistently scored points in nearly every race, except for retirements in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi and missing the races at Silverstone due to contracting COVID-19. Despite his strong performances, team owner Lawrence Stroll opted not to retain Pérez for 2021 as the team transitioned to Aston Martin. Sebastian Vettel joined Lance Stroll as the drivers, leaving Pérez without a seat. Ironically, Pérez’s races post-announcement of his departure turned out to be some of his best. He secured a dramatic victory in Sakhir, overcoming adverse circumstances to claim his first win and solidify his place in Formula 1.
Sergio Pérez F1 career Sergio Pérez F1 career Sergio Pérez F1 career
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