A look back at the career of Sergio Perez from karting through to GP2 before he eventually joined Formula 1.
Red Bull driver Sergio Perez is a Mexican racing driver. This weekend, the Red Bull driver will return home, competing at the 2024 Grand Prix as he continues to fight to prove himself worthy of the second Red Bull seat.
Perez joined F1 in 2011 as a Ferrari Academy driver and drove for the Sauber F1 team in his first two years in the sport. He won his first Grand Prix driving for Racing Point in 2020. He is now a 6-time Grand Prix winner.
Karting
Sergio Perez began karting at the age of six in 1996 and quickly displayed talent and determination on the track. Over the years, he achieved numerous victories and podium finishes across various categories, becoming the youngest champion in some instances. Perez’s success caught the attention of Escuderia Telmex scouts, and by 2002, he was a prominent figure in the karting world, finishing as a national runner-up and impressing in global races. Despite setbacks in 2003, Perez continued to showcase his skill, securing podium finishes.
Non-formula open-wheel
In 2004, Sergio Perez competed in the Barber Dodge Pro Series. In 2005 he competed in Formula BMW ADAC. With one podium that season, he finished P14 in the Drivers Championship standings. In the Rookies Cup for that championship that season, out of 11 rookies, Perex was P5.
He returned to the competition in 2006 and had a better season. Perez never once finished outside of the points and managed 2 podiums allowing him to finish P6 in the Drivers’ Championship standings.
In the 2006–07 A1 Grand Prix season, Pérez took part in a single round of the championship for A1 Team Mexico. He was the third-youngest driver to take part in the competition.
Formula 3
Sergio Perez stepped up to formula car racing series in 2007. Perez competed in the National Class of the British Formula 3 International Series. The Mexican topped the National Class standings by 109 points. In 2008, he raced in the Championship Class of the same competition. With 4 race wins and an additional podium finish, Perez finished P4 in the standings by the end of the season.
GP2
Towards the end of 2008, Sergio Perez started competing in the 2008–09 GP2 Asia Series season. He had 2 wins that season, finishing P7 in the Drivers’ Championship.
In 2009, the young Mexican made his GP2 debut. Driving for Telmex Arden International, he managed 2 podium finishes and finished P12 in the Drivers’ Championship.
Later in 2009, he returned to the GP2 Asia Series for the 2009–10 season. He only however competed in four races and finished P15 in the final standings.
In the 2010 GP2 season, Sergio Perez was runners-up in the Drivers’ Championship, behind Pastor Maldonado. He ended his season with 1 pole position, 5 race wins and 7 podium finishes.
Formula 1
Sergio Perez went on to make his F1 debut in 2011. As a part of the Ferrari Academy since October 2010, the Mexican drove for the Sauber F1 team in F1 for two seasons, finishing P16 and P10 in the Championship standings in the respective seasons. He spent the 2013 season as a McLaren driver alongside Jenson Button.
The Mexican then went on to spend 8 seasons with Force India who rebranded to Racing Point while he was there. Perez became a Grand Prix winner at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. Proving himself as a top driver with that win, he signed with Red Bull for the 2021 season to race alongside Max Verstappen.
