Profile

Name Sergio Perez MendozaNationality Mexican Date of Birth January 26, 1990Birthplace Guadalajara, Jalisco MexicoMarital Status Single Hobbies Soccer, Karting, Yoga, and Gym.Favorite tracks Monaco, Monza, and Spa FrancorchampsFavorite Food “Torta Ahogada” Pet Canelito PerezIdol Ayrton Senna

The Perez LegacyA love and passion for motorsports

Antonio Perez Garibay, Sergio’s father, had to hide his surname from the public because he feared that his mother would discover that he was a race car driver.

Antonio’s children, Antonio Jr. and Sergio, have grown up in the shadow of their father who was Adrian Fernandez’s manager during his successful career as an Indy Car driver. Both Antonio Jr. and Sergio won national and international championships in karting.

Sergio’s MentorEscuderia Telmex project

Carlos Slim Domit from Escuderia Telmex has sup-ported Sergio Perez from the beginning all the way through Formula 1. He has a huge love for motor-sports which is why he founded Escuderia Telmex. Escuderia Telmex was designed to help launch the career of new professional drivers from Mexico.

Sergio Perez is fortunate to have been supported by Escuderia Telmex andall the companies of Grupo Carso. Carlos, a mentor and friend of Sergio, has managed to guide his career towards a path of excellence, leadership, and respon-sibility.

Sergio has become the most prominent driver in Escuderia Telmex, taking advantage of the oppor-tunities and delivering valuable results which have contributed to the project’s success. Mr. Slim has recognized the value of his work, saying: “Sergio has been very mature, and not just him as a driver, also the whole team of Escuderia Telmex.”

Checo’s First StepsKarting Career

Checo began his career in 1996 at the age of 6 when he began karting. During his first year of competition he achieved 4 victories in the junior category, and at the end of the year he claimed runner-up in the category. In 1997, Pérez partici-pated in the Youth Class (karts), where he was the youngest driver in the category and earned a win, five podiums, and finished fourth in the champi-onship.

The following year he returned to compete in the junior category where he had eight wins. At the end of the campaign he became the youngest driver to become champion of the junior catego-ry. He also participated in several races in Master Kadets where he had one podium finish.

In 1999, he raced in the 80cc Shifter series where he racked up three wins and finished third in the championship. He became the youngest driver to win a competition in the category after obtaining special permission from the Federation to partici-pate in the 80cc Shifter series.

In 2000, he raced in the Shifter 80cc Champion-ship. He also participated in three races in the Shifter 125cc category of the Telmex Challenge. Perez was not satisfied with the results and the following season was trying for another champi-onship; this time in the 125cc Shifter Regional and once again was the youngest driver to compete in the category.

With six wins in 2002, Pérez was named the na-tional runner-up in the Shifter 125 cc category, and participated in the global race Shifter 80cc, in Las Vegas, where he qualified fifth and finished in 11th place.

In 2003, Sergio was invited to attend the Easy Kart 125 Shootout which included drivers from around the world. He qualified in first place and eventu-ally took the checkered flag as the youngest driver in the category.

Skip Barber Checo decided to be professional racing driver.

After a long time in karting, Checo decided to start his professional career.

Checo competed in the United States-based Skip Barber National Championship in 2004. After watching his brother Antonio in Formula Ford in England , he decided to begin the adventure of becoming a professional driver. He finished elev-enth in the championship driving for Escuderia Telmex.

Formula BMWThe most difficult challenge

Sergio left home at age 14 for Germany to com-pete in Formula BMW.He decided not to come home until he was the champion of Formula 1. Pérez moved to Europe in 2005 to compete in the German Formula BMW ADAC series. Although things were easy in the beginning when he arrived in Europe, he learned first-hand how difficult it is to start a career so far from home. Sergio did not speak German or have a place to live so he spent several months sleep-ing in a restaurant owned by the leader of the team “4 Speed Media”. Sergio was very homesick; he missed his family, his home, and his pets. His thirst for victory kept him going though, and he won a podium his first year.

British Formula 3Aimed to success

Perez became the youngest champion in British Formula 3.

After his first year in Formula BMW Checo went to the city of Oxford and raced in the British F3. In F3 his career began to take off as he placed on the podium and won races, as well as set records along the way. Perez was able to overtake opponents in spectacular fashion.

He won the championship of the National Class and also became the youngest driver to win a British Formula 3 championship at 17 years old

Because of all this, he earned a spot in the Championship Class. During his time in this cat-egory he earned a stunning weekend win in both races at Monza. Starting in 14th place with a wet track, he achieved a podium which made motorsport history for Mexico.

GP2 SeriesDon’t look back

Pérez drove for the Campos Grand Prix team in the 2008-09 GP2 Asia Series season where he partnered with Russian driver Vitaly Petrov. He is the first Mexican driver to compete at this level of motorsports since Giovanni Aloi took part in International Formula 3000 in 1990. He won his first GP2 Asia Series race at Sakhir, winning the sprint race from the pole position and holding first through the checkered flag. He added a second win at Losail during the sprint race at night in Qatar.

In 2009 he joined the GP2 series on the Arden team. At first he had many setbacks but he eventually was able to get 12th place in the championship.

In 2010 he got a place on the Barwa Addax team. The success came imme-diately in the form of poles and podiums, and he even began to fight for the 2010 championship with Pastor Maldonado.He also scored one of the most important achievements of motorsports for a Mexican, a podium at the Monaco street circuit. GP2 boosted his career and opened the doors to Formula 1.

Checo finished GP2 as runner-up in 2010 with five victories in Monaco, Silverstone, Hockenheim, Spa Francorchamps, and Abu Dhabi in just his second year in the category.

Formula 1 2011The dream continues

After the successful campaign in GP2, Sergio Perez was confirmed by the Sauber F1 team as official driver for the 2011 season. He fulfilled one of his dreams. Pérez is the fifth Mexican to compete in Formula One, and the first since Hector Rebaque competed between 1977 and 1981. He became the leader of the Mexican motorsports by reaching the pinnacle series.

The excitement of the arrival of Checo creates a new stream of fans of Formula 1; young people who feel motivated and inspired by his career full of challenges, and difficulties overcome by perseverance. Upon arrival in Formula 1 he made a commitment: be an example for Mexico and for all those who have dreams in life, dreams that seem impossible challenges. The challenge is not easy. Sergio has to fulfil his ultimate dream: to be a Formula 1 champion.

In Australia 2011, Checo passed the checkered flag in seventh place in his first race, impressing commentators by stopping to change tires only once. By doing so, he became the only driver in the field to make fewer than two stops. However, both Sauber cars were subsequently disqualified for infringing technical regulations. In the Spanish Grand Prix 2011, Pérez col-lected his first classified points in ninth place, ahead of teammate Kamui Kobayashi in tenth. In 2011 Sergio scored valuable points in Silverstone, Singapore, Suzuka and India. He ended the season in 16th with 14 points, one of the best results for a rookie during that season.

Ferrari’s AcademyLooking for become the best driver

The Ferrari Driver Academy, also known by its acronym “FDA”, came from the interest of the Prancing Horse team in developing talent at home with young drivers.

Checo was part of the Academy from 2011 until 2012. His responsibility as a part of this select group of young drivers was to develop a series of tests. Perez also had the privilege of training with the car as well as the team’s Maranello simulators.

Sergio’s enthusiasm for developing as a driver exemplifies FDA’s work while his talent creates interest in other young students of the recent Ferrari driving school. On September 13th, Pérez tested for Ferrari as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy in a Ferrari F60 (Ferrari’s car from the 2009 season).

Formula 1 2012Rise of the new Mexican motosports star

Pérez started the season with eighth place at the Australian Grand Prix where he showed good form along with good tire management. Checo repeated the strategy used last year and he only pitted once.

In the second round at Malaysia Sergio got his first podium in Formula 1. He battled with Fernando Alonso in the rain for the win, but he struggled in a curve and lost the gap with the Ferrari´s car. He took the second place, and he claimed Sauber’s best result as an independent team. Sergio Pérez’s second place finish result was the best by a Mexi-can since Pedro Rodríguez came second at Zand-voort in 1971.

Never give upCheco focused during problems

After these great results, Sergio had problems at some important races for points. In Spain he scored a good place in the grid, but contact with Romain Grosjean destroyed his tires and he had to quit the race.

Also, during free practice 3, Williams of Pastor Mal-donado hit Sergio’s car. This collision left his car suspension broken for the qualifying session. At the race he showed his very talented driving style doing the best lap of the race and his first fastest lap in Formula 1.

In the Belgian Grand Prix Sergio Perez had another chance to climb to victory. After a suc-cessful qualifying session Sergio was located in 4th place of the grid. Later in the race, Checo was hit in one of the most violent crashes of the season. More bad luck to end a race of the 2012 season.

American PodiumSergio Perez scored his second podium

In the follow weeks after the Monaco’s clash, Perez did a superb job at Gilles Villeneuve circuit. Checo completed an aggressive strategy at the Canadian Grand Prix, which allowed which allowed him to pit only once and finish third after starting 15th on the grid.

This was another goal reached with his impressing driving style. He stepped up on the podium again and gave another podium to the Sauber Team.

Monza: Capolavoronear off first win

Sergio makes history at Italian Grand Prix where he achieved one of the most amazing races of the year. In a thrilling race in front of all of the Ferrari fans, Checo maintained a pace that allowed him to get over Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, winning the third podium of the year. This second place is the most important podium for him personally, because he made it with superb driving. He advanced 10 positions after starting from 12th on the grid. This second place is the most important podium for him personally, because he made it with superb driving and in good weather conditions.