Sergio “Checo” Perez is a Mexican driver competing in Formula One for Red Bull Racing. Perez’s best result was finishing runner-up in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship. Perez has also driven for Sauber, McLaren, Force India, and Racing Point.
| Nationality | Mexican |
|---|---|
| Born | Sergio Michel Pérez Mendoza 26 January 1990 Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico |
Graduating from karting to junior formulae in 2004, Perez won his first championship in the national class of the 2007 British Formula 3 International Series. He progressed to the GP2 Series in 2009, finishing runner-up to Pastor Maldonado the following season.
A member of the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2010 to 2012, Perez signed for Sauber in 2011 to partner Kamui Kobayashi. He made his Formula One debut at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix, where both were disqualified for an illegal rear wing. Perez found greater success with the team in 2012, taking his maiden podium in Malaysia and repeating this feat in Canada and Italy. With his success at Sauber, Perez was often called “The Mexican Wunderkind.”
For the 2013 season, Perez moved to McLaren, replacing Lewis Hamilton to partner Jenson Button. His time at McLaren was challenging, as the team faced performance struggles, and Perez finished the season without a podium finish, leading to his departure from the team after just one season.
In 2014, Perez signed with Force India, securing five podium finishes with the team over the following season, mostly in races where tyre management was crucial. In 2018, Force India underwent a mid-season rebranding to Racing Point, and Perez continued with the newly branded team. His highlight during this period came in 2020 when he achieved his maiden Formula 1 victory at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix; a win made more remarkable after recovering from last place at the end of the first lap. That season, Perez finished fourth in the 2020 Drivers’ Championship, his highest position with the team.
However, Perez was replaced by Sebastian Vettel at the rebranded Aston Martin team for the 2021 season. Shortly afterwards, Pérez signed with Red Bull Racing, partnering with Max Verstappen. He quickly adapted to the new team, securing his first win at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Over the next two seasons, Perez played a vital role in Red Bull’s success. In 2022, he claimed victories at the Monaco and Singapore Grand Prix and earned his first-ever pole position in Saudi Arabia, finishing the season in third place. In 2023, Pérez improved again, finishing runner-up to Max Verstappen in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship.
As of the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Perez has achieved six race wins, three pole positions, 12 fastest laps, and 39 podiums in Formula One. He holds the Formula One records for the most starts before a race win (190) and the most races before a pole position (219). Perez is set to remain at Red Bull until at least the end of the 2026 season.
