The Formula 1 World Championship It is the main international motorsport competition, the most popular and also the most prestigious. The best drivers in the world compete in this race and it is the Mexican Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez who is among the top positions.
At the beginning of the month, the 31-year-old man from Guadalajara celebrated his fourth victory in the Formula Onethe second of the season —after the one he got in Monaco—, by winning the Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay circuit ahead of the Ferraris; where the dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), finished in seventh position and the Asturian double world champion, Fernando Alonso (Alpine), left in the twenty-first lap of the very busy Singaporean race.
With this victory, ‘Checo’ consolidates himself as one of the greatest drivers Mexico has ever had and who is currently causing a sensation in Formula 1, but who is this character, what is his story away from the track and his career as a driver? racing? This is the biography of Sergio Pérez.
Why is Sergio Pérez called Checo?
The nickname ‘Checo’ has caused mystery around the world, but for Mexicans there is no greater science. We know that the Sergios are used to saying ‘Checo’, just as the Joses are called ‘Pepe’.
In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically nicknamed ‘Checo’. Sorry, there is no story behind this!” Said the same pilot during an interview.
Czech Perez Biography
The pilot was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, on January 26, 1990. His parents are Marilú Mendoza and Antonio Pérez Garibay —former driver and racing car trainer—. Checo is the younger brother of Paola Pérez and Antonio Pérez, the latter participant in the Nascar Mexico series.
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At just 6 years old, Sergio began his career in the karting. In his first year he achieved four victories in the Children’s Category and by the end of the same period he became runner-up in the category. The boy’s talent was such that he forced the Mexican federation to issue a permit so that he could compete in races superior to his own.
In 1997, Checo competes in the Youth Category (karts) and obtains a victory, five podiums and fourth place in the championship. Just one year later, achieves eight victories and thus becomes the youngest driver to become champion of that category.
In the category Shifter 80cc. of 1998, Pérez adds three victories and finishes in the third position of the championship. However, in 2001, he achieved first place in the Shifter 125cc. and for 2002 he leads two championships within the same category.
Two years later, Checo competes in the Midwestern Championship, as well as in the Formula Skip Barber Formula Dodge Series National for Escudería Telmex. This gives him the recognition of the youngest driver in history to get on the podium in that category. He was ranked number 11.
international races
In 2005, Sergio participates in the Formula BMW in Germany. In this competition he achieves the second position on the podium during the first race, but he wins the second. In 2006, he also entered Formula BMW and achieved a podium finish.
For 2007, the driver competes in the British Formula 3 Championship within the National Class. Here he manages to emerge victorious by beating the Chinese Cong Fu Chen and also sets a new record of 376 points. His compatriot, Salvador Durán, also competes in this race.
A year later, Checo Pérez enters the Campos Grand Prix for the 2008-09 GP2 Asia Series and wins two of the races. In 2009 he signs for burn International and finishes with 22 points in 12th place. This makes him return to the Campos Grand Prix and he gets five wins.
Formula 1
On October 4, 2010, Sergio officially enters Formula 1. He competes with the Sauber team in the 2011 season. Charles Slim who takes by the hand the pilot who was only 20 years old at the time.
This event makes him the first Mexican in thirty years to drive in Formula 1 —previously it was Héctor Alonso Rebaque—. In the team he has Kamui Kobayashi as a partner.
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His debut is on March 27, 2011 at the Australian Grand Prix. Back then, he and Kamui were disqualified after irregularities were detected in the rear wing of their cars.
Subsequently, the Mexican suffered an accident in Monaco, so he could not participate in the Canadian Grand Prix. However, his return was better than the beginning, as he achieved a seventh place in Silverstone and finished the world championship in sixteenth position.
McLaren and Force India
In 2012 his incorporation to the team was announced. McLaren for the 2013 season and finishes in eleventh position in the table. But at the end of the same year, Force India He incorporates him into his ranks for the 2014 season and stays with the team for almost six consecutive years.
In 2020, he achieved the first victory by winning the Sakhir GP. This gives him the title of the second Mexican —after Pedro Rodríguez— to win a Grand Prix.
Red Bull Racing
On December 18, 2020, his hiring for the 2021 season is announced by Red Bull Racing. It was at the Bahrain GP where he made his official debut with fifth place. And on November 7, 2021, he was recognized as the first Mexican to achieve a third consecutive F1 podium.
In May 2022, the Milton Keynes team announced the renewal of Checo’s contractwhich will end in 2024.
How many podiums does Checo Pérez have with Red Bull?
13 podiums in total.
How much does Checo Pérez earn?
Their current salary is 8 million dollars a year. However, by extending his contract with Red Bull, this could increase.
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