Sergio Perez

## Career Overview

### **Sauber (2011 - 2012)**

Sergio Perez made his F1 debut in 2011 with Sauber. Perez would take three podiums with the team in 2012.

### **McLaren (2013)**

Perez moved to McLaren, after the news he wouldn't get a Ferrari seat for 2013. However, 2013 was the start of McLaren's downfall, and neither Perez or team mate Jenson Button made the podium all season.

### **Force India (2014 - 2016)**

Perez lost his seat at McLaren, prompting the Mexican to move to Force India, however, Perez would finish the season with 40 less point than team mate Nico Hulkenberg. It would take until 2016 (Force India's last year of competition) for Perez to return to the podium.

### **Return to F1 with Aston Martin (2020 - 2021)**

Perez last raced in F1 in 2016 during Force India's final season, which yielded a few podium finishes for the Mexican. Aston Martin's faith in him was clear from the off, as he has a contract with the team until the end of the 2022 season. He will have to work with teammate Lance Stroll to build a team from the ground up.

Perez went above and beyond in the season opener. Making the most of the chaos around him, the Mexican made his way up to fourth by the end of lap 1. Utilizing the straight line speed of the AMR01, Perez was able to hold position once the rain came down. Lance Stroll was also on target for points, but an unscheduled pitstop left him down the order. Perez would again have a strong showing at round 2, finishing 13th to pick up 8 points under the Wildcard system. Perez picked up another two points at the Spanish Grand Prix to keep himself in the top 10 on the Driver's Championship.

#### **2021**

After a modest debut season, with a best finish of 7th, and 14/40 points finishes, there was no change to the drivers. Sergio Perez showed he'd lost none of his speed following three seasons out.

The opening race would be a reality check for the team. Perez and Stroll were the last on track finishers, and the only two cars to get lapped. Perez was also involved in a last lap incident with second placed Josh Tirowee. Perez redeemed himself at his home race. An audacious one-stop strategy allowed the Mexican to finish in 11th, claiming 2 points, and holding off a recovering Tirowee on the final lap.

Perez reminded everyone what he's capable of at the Monaco Grand Prix. He gave Aston Martin their first top 10 of the season, finished the race in 8th, ahead of the McLaren of Lando Norris.

A shortened season saw Perez finish 15th overall, with 23 of Aston Martin's 35 points scored.

### **Red Bull (Present)**

Sergio Perez replaces Alex Albon, and finally has a chance in a title contending car. The F1 veteran still searching for that all elusive first victory. After putting in two very impressive campaigns for a backmarker Aston Martin team, the Mexican finally has a chance to challenge for a Driver's title.

Red Bull brought a major weight reduction upgrade for the Bahrain Grand Prix. The RB18 now 12kg lighter. Perez used this advantage to secure his first ever pole position. Verstappen lined up fourth. It was downhill from there, as Charles Leclerc got a lightning start, and passed Perez into turn 1. Things got worse, as Verstappen damaged his front wing and had to pit at the end of the lap. Verstappen made his third stop on lap 21, after passing Lance Stroll to temporarily move out of last place. His race, however, would be cut short as he retired on lap 27. Perez went on to salvage second.

Perez had a difficult race at round 5, Singapore. Starting on Inters, Perez hit the Alfa Romeo of Josh Tirowee into turn 1, and lost his front wing. In a race that went Safety Car free, the Mexican recovered up to 10th.

There was a mass-pileup during the Belgian Grand Prix involving Perez. Most drivers made their one stop at the end of lap 10. Perez pitted for Hard tyres. At pit exit, his RB18 suffered a gearbox issue, as was stuck in second. The Mercedes behind of Russell plowed into Perez, shattering parts of the M13 all over the track. Unsighted drivers behind plowed into the wreckage. Russell, Gasly, Ocon, Albon and Matsushita all left behind their wrecked machines.

The four former would receive medical attention. The red flag was brought out, allowing Verstappen to hold the lead. Perez's fate wad sealed on the reconnaissance lap to the rolling restart, another gearbox issue holding the Mexican.

At the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, Sergio Perez announced his retirement from F1 at the end of the 2022 season. Red Bull introduced a new lighter chassis, after the disastrous US GP. Under the budget cap restrictions, it's their final upgrade of the season. From here, the rest of the weekend didn't go as expected. Tirowee broke into the 1:17s to secure pole ahead of Verstappen. The Red Bulls started the race on Hards, and struggled in the overcast conditions to heat up the tyres. Verstappen reported issues on lap 11, and dropped behind his teammate and both Mercedes. The Dutchman's pace had slowed the such an extent that Tirowee rejoined after his first stop still ahead of the Red Bull. Sergio Perez lead his home race for a lap, before Tirowee took the lead. Perez pitted at the end of that lap, with Red Bull anticipating a VSC or full Safety Car for Wehrlein's retirement. Perez finished lead Red Bull in 5th, with Verstappen 7th.

During Qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix, Zhou Guanyu exited the pits right into the path of Sergio Perez on his last run in Q3. The session wasn't restarted. The Sergio Perez/Zhou Guanyu crash secured pole for Verstappen on his first time. Perez struggled in the race, finishing where he started in 8th, 26 seconds behind Verstappen. The Mexican was also now only one point ahead of Ocon in the Standings, which could prove decisive in the Constructor's fight.

Red Bull took the first 1-2 finish of any team so far at the Portuguese Grand Prix. Verstappen lined up third, ahead of Perez. Rain was expected during the race. Alfa Romeo predicted the rain would come late in the race, Tirowee started on Hards and Zhou on Mediums. Red Bull anticipated a shower was imminent, and both cars started on Softs. Alpine played safe and started on Mediums. Perez and Verstappen powered to the front off the start. Alonso passed Tirowee for 4th on lap 7, just as the heavens opened. Perez, along with most of the field, pit at the end of lap 8. The Alfa Romeos double stacked. Verstappen chose to do another lap on Softs, and would fall behind Zhou and Alonso. The rain was slowly becoming heavier, on lap 23 Zhou and Alonso headed to the pits for full wets. Red Bull left Verstappen out to gain track position over the Alpine. Alfa Romeo brought in Tirowee from 3rd on the next lap for wets. Ocon pit for a new set of Inters and was posting times as quick as those on Wets. By lap 27, the rain was slowly worsening, but it was too late for Perez, Verstappen, Leclerc and Norris to pit without losing track position. Tirowee caught and passed Tirowee on lap 29, as it was now full wet conditions. The top 3 kept it on track for the final laps. Verstappen came into his element, and was taking seconds per lap out of Perez. On the final lap, he was within a second of the Mexican, but Perez held strong to take his first race win in his penultimate race. Perez secured Red Bull's 74th victory.

Perez helped Red Bull secure their first Constructor's Championship in the V6 turbo hybrid era, with a 5th place finish in the final race at Brazil, ahead of both Alpines. The Mexican bows out of F1 5th in the 2022 standings.

## Racing Record (Formula One Results Only)

Results in **bold** indicate Championships won.