Sergio “Checo” Perez, born on January 26, 1990, in Guadalajara, is a Mexican Formula 1 driver who will make his comeback in 2026 with the new Cadillac F1 Team, alongside Valtteri Bottas. Before that, he spent four years racing alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. Perez made his Formula 1 debut in 2011.

Perez debuted in Formula 1 in 2011 with Sauber. Despite a difficult rookie season, he scored three podiums in 2012, which attracted the interest of top teams. He moved to McLaren in 2013 but struggled during his single season there. He then joined Force India (later Racing Point and Aston Martin), where he spent seven seasons and scored seven podiums, including his first career victory.

At the end of 2020, Perez’s F1 career seemed to be over. Despite having a contract, Racing Point – which would become Aston Martin in 2021 – dropped him in favor of Sebastian Vettel. His win in Sakhir, however, caught the attention of Red Bull Racing, who were looking to replace Alexander Albon. Perez was signed as Max Verstappen’s new teammate for 2021.

The 2024 season was make-or-break for Perez. Both Helmut Marko and Christian Horner made it clear they were considering other options for 2025, and Perez had to prove himself to secure a new deal. Although he managed to extend his contract, his continued struggles ultimately led to Red Bull releasing him after 2024. He has since been succeeded by Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, who are both struggling with the RB21.

The partnership between Verstappen and Perez initially worked well but cooled after several incidents in 2022. At the Brazilian Grand Prix, Verstappen refused to let Perez through despite his need for points in the battle with Charles Leclerc for P2 in the championship.

The refusal stemmed from an incident during qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix, where Perez was accused of deliberately crashing to secure a grid advantage over Verstappen. Perez went on to win the race, while Verstappen finished off the podium.

In 2021, Perez proved his worth to Red Bull by winning in Baku, covering for Verstappen after his crash. At the decisive Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Perez held off Lewis Hamilton for several laps on worn tires, playing a crucial role in Verstappen’s victory and first world title. In 2022, Perez added two more wins in Monaco and Singapore. His performances earned him a two-year contract extension with Red Bull.

Perez was born on January 26, 1990, in Guadalajara, Mexico. He is 35 years old and will turn 36 on January 26, 2026. Perez is 1.73 meters tall and weighs around 63 kilograms.

In August, Cadillac confirmed its line-up for its debut 2026 season: Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. Both drivers had long been linked with the American project. Their combined experience as former Red Bull and Mercedes drivers will give Cadillac a solid foundation in Formula 1.

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