Sergio Perez, a Mexican racing driver, has established himself as one of the most prominent drivers in the global racing world. He started his career with his debut in the Formula 1 2011 season. He eventually rose to popularity with his ability to adapt to challenging racing conditions and technical experiences. However with Sergio Perez coming on board to join Red Bull Racing’s strong lineup seemed impossible, as the Mexican F1 driver’s career path was heading in an entirely different direction. The racing community labeled the move as fortune while the diligent and desperate work of the Mexican driver backed him from the verge to leave Formula 1.
- Fascinating Facts About Sergio Perez
- Sergio Perez's final season with Racing Point.
- Decidive Sakhir Grand Prix 2020.
- The unexpected turn or Sergio Perez joined Red Bull F1 team
- The Impact of Sergio Perez Joining the Red Bull F1 Team
- Why are there rumors that Sergio Perez will retire from the Red Bull team?
- How will Perez fit into F1's ever-evolving landscape?
Fascinating Facts About Sergio Perez
Sergio Perez Mendoza was born in 1990 in the Mexican city of Guadalajara. His racing career started in 2004, when he was part of the national karting team before moving to Europe to compete on more professional circuits.
Sergio Perez is about 1.73m (5′ 8″) tall and weighs about 63kg. In the F1 community as well as on the grid, they call him Checo. But if you think that there is much sense behind Sergio Perez’s nickname, then you are probble wrong. Sergios in his homeland Guadalajara are automatically nicknamed Checo.
Perez participated in several forms of racing, including Formula 1, where he satrted as a driver for Sauber in 2011. One of the fun facts is that he took his first Formula 1 podium at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix with Sauber. Due to his young age – 22 years old, he was referred to as “The Mexican Wunderkind”. Furthermore, Perez was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
Sergio Perez’s contract with Force India (Racing Point) is estimated to be around $3m. While the deal with Red Bull is in excess of $18 million, including $13 million in bonuses for the 2023 F1 season.
Sergio Perez is an exemplary family man. He has three kids. A kindly man behind the scenes, Sergio Perez’s father, smiles like a child with the Mexico flag in his hands. Antonio Pérez Garibay is a very responsible official and a successful entrepreneur. However, with his smile the atmosphere became more positivity during the Mexico Grand Prix.
Sergio Perez That F1 Fans Don’t Know
Someone says that if Sergio Perez wasn’t an F1 driver, he would be a lawyer, but it’s a false. The fact is that Sergio Perez is a football player and he has his own team. The Mexican driver also has a foundation that helps strengthen vulnerable groups, particularly children.
However, we get used to thinking about Force India and Red Bull when it comes to Sergio Perez. Although few people remember Perez replacing Lewis Hamilton at McLaren. His second season at Sauber was impressive enough to catch the eye of some of the prominent names on the grid and he switched to McLaren. The Mexican F1 driver spent the 2013 Formula 1 season alongside Jenson Button and made another major move to drive for Force India.
Moreover, when the time of Force India came to an end, Perez was also instrumental in the team being put into Liquidation. He took legal action against the team to save many essential jobs. He personally helped pay salaries for the staff.
The team was saved by a consortium of investors led by billionaire Laurence Stroll.
Behind the scenes of beautiful life is hidden on which drama was rising inside the team as well as for Sergio Perez, who had raing each Grand Prix like it was his last one.
He had been racing with Force India team (Racing Point), which raised many controversies in F1. Perez spent there seven years, before his contract was not extended for 2021 Formula 1 season.
Sergio Perez’s final season with Racing Point.
At the end of 202 F1 season, Sergio Perez announced that he would leave Racing Point and added that the season would be his last. That was a real drama that none of the thousands of Perez fans wanted to believe in. Mexican had proved many times that he has a drive, talent to continue his career alongside the fastest. The results of his teammate Lance Stroll also showed Perez to be faster. However, that was the last decision.
But Formula 1 racing is a huge industry with large investments, high prices and high prestige. As a result, reputation is equally important as results. With the knowledge that his career is ending, Sergio Perez didn’t lose the pace, instead he added. In the first three races of the 2020 season, he finished in top ten, and in Tuscan GP, Sochi GP, and Eifel GP he finished in top five. Mexican F1 driver even reached the podium by finishing the race in Turkey on second place.
Shamingly, he retired from the Bahrain Grand Prix when his Racing Point caught fire, before showing evidence that he deserves a seat for the 2021 Formula 1 season.
Decidive Sakhir Grand Prix 2020.
The Bahrain Grand Prix 2020, or better called race in Sakhir, is one of the most memorable F1 races of recent time. From Geroge Russell replacing Covid-19 positive Lewis Hamitlon to Esteban Ocon finishing second with Renault, the event was full of unexpected events.
The main drivers, however, have retired from the race. Charles Lecerc (Ferrari), Max Verstappen (Red Bull) were among them, while the Mercedeses of Valteri Bottas and George Russell finished ninth and eighth, respectively.
Sergio Perez made a breakthrough and won the first victory of his 190-race career and became the first Mexican F1 driver to win a race since Pedro Rodríguez at the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix.
The atmosphere at the ceremony was filled in happiness and tears. F1 fans were stirred by the victory of Perez as well. As each one knew Mexican would leave Formula 1.
The unexpected turn or Sergio Perez joined Red Bull F1 team
At that moment, Red Bull staff carefully watched the situation. They had understood, Helmut Marko and team principal Christian Horner, that Max Verstappen needed a stable teammate. The previous experience with Red Bull signing Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly wasn’t successful, as they needed someone who had both experience and had personality. Therefore, Sergio Perez’s victory at Sakhir Grand Prix became crucial, as in Red Bull they decided immediately to Mexican to continue the carrer but already in Red Bull’s suit.
A statement was announced in December 2020. In that case, he had luck. Due to almost a full driver line-up for the 2021 season, he had no chance despite Mexican sponsorship and racing experience. However, the Red Bull team also profited from the deal, as two new Mexican sponsors joined the team in January.
The Impact of Sergio Perez Joining the Red Bull F1 Team
Besides the additional investments, it’s hard to overestimate Sergio Perez’s role in Red Bull stepping up to the top. Thus, that was the 2021 Formula 1 season, when the team became a force because Max Verstappen took the championship tittle. By 2022, they finally won the first constructors championship since their successful story with Sebastien Vettel in 2013. However, Perez wasn’t able to adapt quickly to the team and car as a Red Bull F1 driver. Thus, he needed about four months to feel himself comfortable in his RB18 alongside Max Verstappen.
Ajerbaijan Grand Prix 2021 marked Perez’s first victory with Red Bull. However, in terms of team tactics and their view of Formula 1, Sergio was better than any other. In every race, he showed his support to Red Bull Racing. Due to Mercedes drivers’ bouncing issues, and Ferrari’s unreliability and team strategy, Red Bull was the clear leader for 2022, with Max Verstappen taking the title again.
Why are there rumors that Sergio Perez will retire from the Red Bull team?
In fact, there are always going to be rumors about Sergio Perez retiring from Red Bull due to their specific policy for their drivers. This was what Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly didn’t like until he moved from Red Bull’s younger sister team Alpha Tauri to Alpine F1. The Red Bull team always puts the team’s interests first rather than the drivers’. Thus, if they are looking for a faster driver, they will find him to replace the current, even if the case is about midseason. And Sergio Perez’s case isn’t the exception.
Whether it is good or bad, it is a clear feature that makes the team stand out from the others. As a result, it is impossible to imagine a similar policy in the Scuderia Ferari. Therefore, they won’t make the same mistakes like Ferrari had due to the team’s tactics for the past five years. This was between Sebastien Vettel and Charles Leclerc, and between Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in the the past two seasons. Red Bull’s F1 team has clear rules.
However, Red Bull extended the contract with Sergio Perez until 2024, while his teammate will continue to compete until 2028.
How will Perez fit into F1’s ever-evolving landscape?
For Sergio Perez, losing the seat after racing for Force India (Racing Point) eight seasons was a personal drama. Currently, the Mexican driver is proving he is fast and capable to win. However, each of his attempts to score the personal points in the championship is often restricted by Max Verstappen, who keeps the own point.
Remarkable was Brazilian Grand Prix 2022, despite already being champion Verstappen refused to let Perez ahead to score some points. Racing against a teammate is not about Perez, however. The other way is to keep a number two driver position, which also sometimes leads to an inner conflict.
However, Sergio Perez is a lucky driver. He already proved everything in his homeland Mexico becoming the real champion of Formula 1 racing and attracting thousands of fans all over the world. So, whether he chooses Red Bull or even any other team, Perez is evidence that kindness, belief, and perseverance always pay off.
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