50 Facts About Sergio Perez

Early Life and Family Background

Sergio Pérez, known to many as Checo, has a fascinating journey that began in Mexico.

1. Birth and Early Life: Born on January 26, 1990, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Pérez's story starts in a vibrant city known for its rich culture and history.

2. Family Background: Racing runs in the family. His brother Antonio competes in the NASCAR Mexico Series, showcasing the family's deep motorsport roots.

3. Early Interest in Motorsports: Initially, Pérez considered a career in football but switched to karting at six, marking the start of his racing journey.

Karting Career

Pérez's karting career laid the foundation for his future success in motorsports.

4. Karting Career: He began competitive karting in 1996, quickly making a name for himself by winning several championships.

5. Junior Karting Achievements: By 1997, Pérez was racing in the Youth Class, earning a win and five podium finishes, finishing fourth in the championship.

6. Karting Titles: In 1998, he won his first championship in the junior category, achieving eight wins and becoming the youngest driver to win the title.

7. Shifter 125cc Category: In 1999, Pérez raced in the 80cc Shifter category, taking three wins and finishing third in the championship.

8. Telmex Challenge Participation: He also participated in three races in the Shifter 125cc category as part of the Telmex Challenge.

9. Global Karting Competitions: In 2002, Pérez qualified fifth and finished 11th in the global race Shifter 80cc in Las Vegas.

10. National Runner-Up: He finished as the national runner-up in the Shifter 125cc category with six wins that year.

11. Global Karting Disappointment: In 2003, Pérez led both championships in the 125cc category but withdrew from the last seven races, which proved to be a disappointment in his title aspirations.

12. Easy Kart 125 Shootout Winner: He won the Easy Kart 125 Shootout in 2003, competing against drivers from around the world and becoming the youngest driver to win the race.

Transition to Single-Seaters

Pérez's move to single-seaters marked a significant step in his racing career.

13. Move to Single-Seaters: In 2004, Pérez transitioned to single-seaters, competing in the US Skip Barber National Championship with backing from Telmex.

14. Formula BMW ADAC Series: The following year, he moved to Europe to compete in Germany’s Formula BMW ADAC series with Team Rosberg, where he took a podium in only his second outing.

15. Team Mexico Representation: In the 2006-7 A1 World Cup of Motorsport, Pérez represented Team Mexico in the China round.

16. British Formula 3 Championship: He then switched to the British Formula 3 Championship, where he won the National Class in 2007.

17. GP2 Series Success: Pérez spent two years in GP2, finishing as runner-up to Pastor Maldonado in 2010 with five wins.

Formula 1 Career

Pérez's entry into Formula 1 marked the beginning of a new chapter filled with challenges and triumphs.

18. Ferrari Driver Academy Member: From 2010 to 2012, Pérez was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy.

19. Sauber Debut: He signed with Sauber for the 2011 season, making his Formula One debut at the Australian Grand Prix.

20. Disqualification in Debut: Unfortunately, Pérez was disqualified in his debut race due to an illegal rear wing.

21. First Podium with Sauber: Despite the setback, Pérez found greater success with Sauber in 2012, taking his maiden podium in Malaysia and repeating this feat in Canada and Italy.

22. McLaren Signing: For the 2013 season, Pérez moved to McLaren, replacing Lewis Hamilton to partner Jenson Button.

23. Podium-less Season with McLaren: Unfortunately, Pérez had a podium-less season with McLaren and was let go at the end of the year.

24. Force India Signing: Force India saw an opportunity to pick up a major talent and signed Pérez for the 2014 season, where he scored five podiums with the team.

25. Racing Point Era: The team rebranded to Racing Point mid-way through the 2018 season, and Pérez continued to impress, helping the team achieve fourth place in the constructors' championship in 2020.

Major Wins and Achievements

Pérez's career is marked by significant wins and achievements that highlight his skill and determination.

26. First Win with Racing Point: Pérez took his first win for Racing Point at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, a race where he was in last place after the first lap but managed to secure victory.

27. Red Bull Signing: In 2021, Pérez signed with Red Bull to partner Max Verstappen, a move that brought about many of his best moments in Formula 1.

28. First Win with Red Bull: Pérez took his first win for Red Bull at the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a race where his teammate Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton ran into trouble.

29. 2021 Season Highlights: Pérez was instrumental throughout the year in Red Bull's fight against Lewis Hamilton, often used by the team to take points off Hamilton. He finished the season in fourth place on the World Drivers' Championship with 190 points.

30. 2022 Season Highlights: The 2022 season started with a DNF at Bahrain due to mechanical issues but was followed by a pole position at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Pérez then put together a run of three second places in the following four races, including moving over from the lead in the Spanish Grand Prix to help his teammate Max Verstappen win.

31. Monaco Grand Prix Win: Pérez won the wet-dry Monaco Grand Prix after starting from third place and competing against the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz for the top spot throughout the weekend.

32. Belgian Grand Prix Performance: On August 28, 2022, Pérez finished second in the Belgian Grand Prix behind his teammate Max Verstappen, his 22nd podium in his Formula 1 career.

33. Singapore Grand Prix Victory: After his win at Monaco, Pérez finished on the podium only three times in the following nine races but won the Singapore Grand Prix after a great qualifying session and a commanding race in wet-dry conditions. This was his third win for Red Bull and the fourth of his career, continuing to extend his record for most wins by a Mexican driver.

34. 2023 World Drivers' Championship Runner-Up: In the 2023 World Drivers' Championship, Pérez finished runner-up to Max Verstappen after taking further victories in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan.

Career Statistics and Personal Life

Pérez's career statistics and personal life offer a glimpse into the man behind the wheel.

35. Career Statistics: As of the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix, Pérez has achieved race wins, pole positions, 4 fastest laps, and 8 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).

36. Salary: In 2019, Pérez's salary was €2,900,000.

37. Height: Pérez stands at 1.73 meters tall.

38. Wife: He is married to Carola Martínez, whom he married in 2018.

39. Children: Pérez has four children.

40. Residence: His current residence is not publicly known.

41. Formula One World Championship Career: Pérez has made 167 entries (164 starts) in the Formula One World Championship, with no championships won and no race wins to date.

42. Podiums and Wins: Despite not having a championship or a race win, Pérez has achieved 8 podiums and 2 wins in his career.

43. Pole Positions: Pérez has secured one pole position in his career, which came at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

44. Fastest Laps: He has achieved 4 fastest laps in his Formula One career.

45. First Entry and Last Win: Pérez made his first entry into Formula One at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix and his last win at the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

46. 2023 Position: In the 2023 season, Pérez finished second in the World Drivers' Championship with 285 points.

47. Previous Series Participation: Before joining Formula One, Pérez participated in various junior formulae series, including the British Formula 3 International Series and GP2 Series.

48. Team Affiliations: Throughout his career, Pérez has been affiliated with several teams, including Sauber, McLaren, Force India/Racing Point, and Red Bull.

49. Racing Style: Known for his exceptional tyre management skills and racing craft, Pérez has often been able to turn mediocre equipment into a major threat by executing daringly unusual racing strategies.

50. Legacy in Motorsports: Pérez's legacy extends beyond his on-track achievements. He is celebrated for his dedication to Mexican motorsports and his role in inspiring a new generation of drivers from his country.

Sergio Perez: A Mexican Motorsport Icon

Sergio Perez's journey from karting in Guadalajara to the pinnacle of Formula 1 is nothing short of inspiring. With a career marked by resilience, skill, and numerous podiums, he's proven himself a formidable competitor. His early karting success, stint with Sauber, and breakthrough win with Racing Point highlight his determination. Joining Red Bull elevated his status, showcasing his ability to compete at the highest level. Known for exceptional tire management and strategic racing, Perez has become a key player in the sport. His victories in Azerbaijan, Monaco, and Singapore are testaments to his talent. Off the track, he's a family man, married to Carola Martínez with four children. Perez's legacy extends beyond his achievements, inspiring a new generation of Mexican drivers. His story is a testament to hard work, dedication, and the pursuit of excellence in motorsports.