Sergio Pérez
The tenacious Mexican driver who clawed his way from midfield to become a consistent winner and title challenger for Formula One's top team.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Mexican racing driver·Birthday: January 26·Millennials
Biography
Sergio 'Checo' Pérez didn't enter Formula One with a gilded path; he arrived with raw speed and a relentless work ethic honed on Mexico's competitive racing circuits. His early years were defined by punching above his weight in underfunded cars, most memorably snatching a stunning wet-weather victory for Racing Point in 2020. That drive earned him a coveted seat at Red Bull, where his role was clear: support the championship charge of Max Verstappen. Pérez, however, proved to be more than just a wingman. He won races on merit, including the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix, and in 2023 mounted a serious early title challenge, finishing a career-best second in the championship. His journey embodies the grit of a driver who refused to be typecast, forcing the F1 world to respect him as a winner in his own right.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Sergio was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sergio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Sergio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished as the runner-up in the 2023 Formula One World Drivers' Championship, the best finish for a Mexican driver in history.
- Has won six Formula One Grands Prix, including the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix and the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
- Secured his first F1 victory at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix for Racing Point, a dramatic win after starting from fifth on the grid.
- Became the first Mexican driver to stand on a Formula One podium in 50 years when he finished second for Sauber at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Checo' is a common Mexican diminutive for Sergio, passed down from his father.
He turned down a potential Ferrari seat in 2013 to remain with McLaren, a decision he later acknowledged was a mistake.
He is a devoted fan of Club América, one of Mexico's most popular soccer teams.
He comes from a racing family; his father was a driver and his older brother also competed in lower formulas.
“I come from a country with not a lot of opportunities. To get here, I had to overcome so much more than most drivers.”
