Unstoppable Force: The Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez Journey from Karting Prodigy to Formula One Champion

Born: 26/01/1990 Guadalajara, Mexico

Early life:

Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez, revered as a stalwart of Formula One racing, traces his illustrious career back to the humble beginnings of karting, a sport where legends are often born. At the tender age of six, Pérez made his debut on the karting circuit, showcasing a natural talent and determination that belied his years. In his inaugural season in 1996, Pérez’s precocious abilities saw him clinch a remarkable second place overall in his class, a feat made all the more impressive by his youth. With four victories secured in that formative year, Pérez quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with, leaving an indelible mark on the karting world.

Pérez’s early success was not merely the result of innate talent, but also a testament to his unwavering dedication and tireless work ethic. Beyond the thrill of victory, Pérez’s passion for racing burned brightly, propelling him to spend countless hours refining his skills and studying the nuances of the sport. His relentless pursuit of excellence set him apart from his peers, laying the foundation for a career that would see him ascend to the pinnacle of motorsport.

Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez has defied convention in Formula 1, finding his peak success over a decade after his debut. Known for his reliability and occasional standout performances, Perez’s journey to victory took 190 races, but joining Red Bull Racing transformed him into a podium regular.

Starting in British single-seaters, Perez impressed in 2007 with older machinery before contending for titles in 2008. His success led to a GP2 Series stint in 2009, catching the eye of Peter Sauber, who recruited him for 2011.

Despite a disappointing McLaren stint in 2013, Perez thrived at Force India, securing his first win in 2020. Joining Red Bull in 2021, he has amassed six wins, 35 podiums, and three poles in 257 races.

2023 

Red Bull Racing 

2nd – 285 points  

In 2022, Perez secured his first top three finish in the F1 championship, with two wins and consistent podium finishes. The following season, he began strongly with four podiums in five races, including victories in Jeddah and Baku, sparking talk of a title challenge against teammate Max Verstappen.

However, Perez’s momentum waned as Verstappen dominated with a record-breaking 10 consecutive wins starting from Miami. Despite only achieving five podiums during Verstappen’s streak, Red Bull continued to publicly support Perez. Despite his struggles, Perez managed to secure a career-best second place in the championship with one podium in the final seven races of 2023.

2022

Red Bull Racing

3rd – 305 points

In Perez’s second season with Red Bull Racing, coinciding with F1’s new technical regulations and the team’s full integration of Honda’s engine program, he overcame initial technical challenges in Bahrain to showcase consistent front-running performances throughout 2022.

Although he struggled to match Verstappen’s pace, Perez secured his maiden F1 pole position in Saudi Arabia and notched three second-place finishes in Albert Park, Imola, and Miami before clinching a memorable victory at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Despite a slight dip in form during the latter half of the season, Perez managed to secure his second win of the year in Singapore and added four more podiums, totaling 11 for the season. Though narrowly missing out on the runner-up spot to Charles Leclerc, Perez’s 12th season in F1 proved to be his most successful yet.

2021

Red Bull Racing

4th – 190 points

Perez’s move to Red Bull Racing came at a pivotal moment, coinciding with the team’s resurgence as a genuine challenger to Mercedes’ dominance in F1. Despite the challenge of partnering Verstappen, Perez quickly adapted and secured steady top-five finishes early in the season. His breakthrough came in Azerbaijan, where he capitalized on issues for his rivals to claim victory. This success boosted his momentum, and he added four more podiums throughout the season, ultimately finishing fourth overall.

2020

Racing Point F1 Team

4th – 125 points

In 2020, Perez experienced a rollercoaster season, achieving a breakthrough in his 10th year in F1 with Racing Point. Despite controversies surrounding the RP20’s similarity to the Mercedes W10, Perez consistently scored points, interrupted only by a COVID-induced absence. His standout moment came at the Sakhir GP, where he clinched his maiden victory in his 190th start, securing Racing Point’s first win since 2003. Despite this success, Perez was left without a drive for 2021 after Racing Point signed Sebastian Vettel. However, his impressive performances earned him a spot at Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen, breaking the team’s usual driver selection criteria.

2019

Racing Point F1 Team

10th – 52 points

In Perez’s sixth season with Racing Point, he started solidly but faced a slump in form with eight consecutive races without cracking the top ten, his longest scoreless run in F1. However, he rebounded in the second half of the season, securing points in eight of the final nine races, including a season-best sixth place in Belgium.

2018

Force India F1 Team / Racing Point Force India F1 Team

8th – 62 points

In 2018, Force India faced financial turmoil due to Vijay Mallya’s legal issues, resulting in budget constraints and a struggle for points. Despite early difficulties, Perez’s season saw improvement with a podium in Baku and four top-ten finishes by the summer break. However, the team went into administration during the Hungarian GP amid mounting creditor issues. Perez’s legal actions helped buy time for the team to find a buyer, ultimately saving it from collapse. Under new ownership by Lawrence Stroll, Racing Point emerged, providing stability for Perez, who achieved seven top-ten finishes in the latter part of the season, securing eighth place overall.

2017

Force India F1 Team

7th – 100 points

In 2017, Perez’s consistent performances mirrored his 2016 season, with five top-six finishes and only one DNF in a reliable VJM10 car. Despite not reaching the podium, he finished seventh overall, scoring points in all but three races. However, tensions with teammate Esteban Ocon resulted in bitter altercations, notably colliding in Baku while contending for a double podium. Force India intervened after a near-miss in Belgium to prevent further incidents between the drivers.

2016

Force India F1 Team

7th – 101 points

In 2016, Perez had another impressive season with Force India, securing two podium finishes and solidifying the team’s position as a mid-field leader. Despite a challenging start, he consistently finished in the top ten in all but two races out of 18. Achieving his first podium in Monaco, Perez replicated the feat in Azerbaijan, showcasing strong pace throughout the season. Despite setbacks like a gearbox change in Baku, Perez’s resilience earned him points in every race post-summer break, including a fourth-place finish in Brazil and fifth in Belgium. These performances propelled him to a new personal best of seventh in the championship standings.

2015

Force India F1 Team

9th – 78 points

In 2015, Force India faced a challenging season, starting with the hastily-designed VJM08 chassis before transitioning to the improved VJM08B mid-season. Despite the initial struggles, Perez managed to score points in four of the first eight races. With the introduction of the upgraded car, his fortunes improved, scoring in eight of the final 11 races. The highlight was a third-place finish in the Russian GP, capitalizing on a last-lap incident. Despite the difficult start, Perez achieved a career-best ninth place overall in the championship.

2014

Force India F1 Team

10th – 59 points

After leaving McLaren, Perez joined the Force India F1 Team for a remarkable seven-season tenure. Benefitting from Force India’s superior Mercedes power unit, Perez capitalized on the advantage over Ferrari and Renault-powered rivals. He scored points in four of the first five races and secured a podium finish in Bahrain, finishing third. Though unable to replicate that success, consistent points finishes helped Perez secure a top-ten finish in the championship, placing tenth overall.

2013

McLaren Racing

11th – 49 points

After impressing at Sauber, Perez attracted attention in the F1 driver market for the 2013 season, eventually securing a deal to replace Lewis Hamilton at McLaren-Mercedes. However, McLaren’s MP4-28 car proved to be difficult to handle for both Perez and teammate Jenson Button. Despite a few top-ten finishes in the first half of the season, including a sixth place in Bahrain, Perez struggled. His performance improved in the latter half, with a fifth place at the Indian GP being his best result of the year. However, Perez was ultimately let go by McLaren after being outperformed by Button and was replaced by rookie Kevin Magnussen.

2012

Sauber F1 Team

10th – 66 points 

Perez’s second season in F1 was a breakthrough, marked by headline-grabbing performances that briefly linked him to a Ferrari seat. Notably, at a rainy Sepang, a strategic pit stop propelled him to second place, securing his maiden F1 podium and Sauber’s best-ever result. His driving style suited the Pirelli tires well, leading to podium finishes in Canada and Italy, where he capitalized on ambitious one-stop strategies. Despite scoring in only seven races out of 20, Perez finished the season in tenth place overall.

2011

Sauber F1 Team

16th – 14 points

In 2011, Perez made his F1 debut with Sauber, becoming the first Mexican driver since Hector Rebaque in 1981. He showcased his talent with a strong seventh-place finish in his maiden race, demonstrating excellent tyre preservation skills. However, a technical infringement led to exclusion from the results. Perez scored his first points in Spain but faced setbacks, including a high-speed crash in Monaco that forced him to miss two races. Despite Sauber’s struggles in development, Perez’s form improved towards the end of the season, highlighted by a seventh-place finish at the British GP, where he outperformed teammate Kamui Kobayashi.

Sergio Perez Racing Record