Sergio Pérez
Who was Sergio Pérez?
Formula One driver competing for Red Bull Racing who became the first Mexican to win a Grand Prix when he won the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. He has secured multiple race victories and podium finishes in his career spanning over a decade in F1.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Sergio Pérez (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Sergio Michel 'Checo' Pérez Mendoza, born on January 26, 1990, in Guadalajara, Mexico, became one of the most successful Mexican drivers in Formula One. He started his motorsport career at the age of six in karting, showing early promise that led him to the top of motor racing. He moved through junior formulas starting in 2004 and won his first championship in the 2007 British Formula 3 International Series in the national class. This success led him to more competitive levels, and by 2009 he was in the GP2 Series, finishing second to Pastor Maldonado in 2010 with Addax.
Pérez joined Formula One in 2011 with Sauber and was part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, racing alongside Kamui Kobayashi. Though his Australian Grand Prix debut saw disqualification due to an illegal rear wing, he quickly proved himself as a capable driver. His breakthrough came in 2012 with his first podium finish in Malaysia, followed by podiums in Canada and Italy. McLaren took notice and signed him for the 2013 season to replace Lewis Hamilton alongside Jenson Button. However, his time with McLaren was disappointing, as he didn’t secure any podiums.
Looking to revive his career, Pérez joined Force India in 2014 and stayed through ownership changes and rebrandings for seven years. With Force India and later Racing Point, he earned five podiums, proving himself a reliable and strategic racer. The 2020 season was pivotal, as he finished fourth in the World Drivers' Championship and won his first Grand Prix at the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain. This dramatic victory saw him come back from last place at the first lap, making him the first Mexican driver to win a Formula One race.
In 2021, after being replaced by Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin, Pérez got a spot at Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen. This was a game-changer for his career, leading to a win at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Teaming up with Red Bull let Pérez regularly compete for wins and championships, adding victories in Monaco and Singapore in 2022, achieving his first pole in Saudi Arabia, and finishing third in the championship. His best season was in 2023, finishing second to teammate Verstappen in the World Drivers' Championship, with wins in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, securing his place among Formula One's top drivers.
Before Fame
Growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico, Pérez started in motorsport at a young age, getting into competitive karting at just six years old. These early karting years set the stage for his racing skills and competitive mindset that would help him throughout his career. He moved from karting to car racing in 2004, entering junior formulae and gradually climbing through various championships in different countries to gain experience on international tracks.
His big moment in junior racing came with the 2007 British Formula 3 International Series championship victory in the national class, making him a serious contender for higher levels of racing. This success opened doors in GP2, the main feeder series for Formula One, where his second-place finish in 2010 showed he was ready for the top level of the sport and caught the eye of Formula One teams seeking talented young drivers.
Key Achievements
- First Mexican driver to win a Formula One Grand Prix (2020 Sakhir Grand Prix)
- Runner-up in the 2023 Formula One World Drivers' Championship
- Six Grand Prix victories across 15 seasons in Formula One
- Third place finish in 2022 World Drivers' Championship
- Winner of 2007 British Formula 3 International Series national class championship
Did You Know?
- 01.His nickname 'Checo' is a common Mexican diminutive for people named Sergio
- 02.He was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2010 to 2012 before making his F1 debut with Sauber
- 03.His maiden F1 victory at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix came after he started from last place at the end of the first lap due to early race incidents
- 04.He achieved his first pole position in Formula One at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix while driving for Red Bull Racing
- 05.Both he and teammate Kamui Kobayashi were disqualified from his very first F1 race due to Sauber's illegal rear wing design