Perez to Red Bull: In the end Perez gets that second chance with a top team

Sergio Perez, born on January 26, 1990, in Guadalajara, Mexico, is already an experienced man in Formula 1 with 191 Grands Prix starts to his name. 24 years ago, Perez's career started at the age of 6. He started karting and already in his first year, he finished second in the standings.

Several kart titles followed, Perez comes to the attention of Carlos Slim. In the Telmex Challenge, organised by the Escuderia Telmex racing team, Perez stands out among the scouts. Slim, CEO of Telmex and world richest man between 2010 and 2013, sees something in Perez and helps him on his way to the formula cars.

That step to Europe is still quite large for Perez. In Formula BMW, he has been on the podium several times in two seasons, but he does not really impress. That will only happen in 2007 when he becomes champion in British Formula 3. However, he remains active in that class in 2008, finishing fourth with four wins.

"Pay driver"

Perez is then active in the GP2 Series and the GP2 Asia Series for two seasons. In 2010 he really knows how to take that last step, when he comes second in the GP2 championship for Barwa Addax, with five wins. He has missed out on the title to Pastor Maldonado that year.

In 2011, Perez will not enter Formula 1 as a big name. Many see Sauber's move mainly as an interesting one in financial terms, because Slim still sponsors Perez and would like to see Telmex back in Formula 1. It succeeds because Perez gets the chance with Sauber. In 2011 he will not show much but then 2012 will follow.

The first chance with a "top team"

In 2012, Perez completes his strongest year, when he drives to the podium three times and even seems on his way to victory in Malaysia for a short while. Perez puts himself on the map and seems to have the chance of a lifetime at McLaren in 2013, where he replaced Lewis Hamilton who left for Mercedes.

However, that switch does not work out well, because where everyone says Hamilton is crazy about going to Mercedes, Mercedes were on the rise and McLaren going downhill. Perez is also much too wild and causes a lot of headaches for McLaren and teammate Jenson Button. After one year, the two parties are already saying goodbye to each other.

The hero of Racing Point

Chances at the top are uncommon and although McLaren was not at the top when Perez got there, he still seemed to have wasted his greatest chance for a seat with a top team. At Force India, he gets a new chance and shows again what he can do. With a podium, he is immediately important again for his new team in 2014.

Force India, which later becomes Racing Point, was Perez's home. Whether Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon or Lance Stroll alongside him, Perez is always one step ahead of his teammate and with six more podiums since his first in 2014, he's an important link for the team.

Perez continues to play an essential role in 2018, as he sues the team to keep hundreds of jobs. That move allows Lawrence Stroll to take over and Esteban Ocon has to pack his things instead of Perez. However, Stroll's arrival will also spell the end of Perez at Racing Point.

A second chance next to Verstappen

In 2020 the news came out that Sebastian Vettel will be released on the market and Perez, who seems stuck with a long-term deal, will be thrown out for 2021. The four-time world champion is set to arrive at the team, and Lance Stroll keeps his seat.

And so it is possible that a very strong driver suddenly ends up without a seat in Formula 1. Fortunately, however, there is now Red Bull Racing, which at the last moment still opts for the Mexican. After his victory in Sakhir and Alexander Albon's mediocre performance, Red Bull could hardly ignore him. However, it gives Perez a second chance at a top team and this time it's a real one. Hopefully, he makes better use of it this time.

This article was written and originally published by Tim Kraaij on the Dutch edition of GPblog.com.