The Mexican left his mark during his time with Red Bull Racing.
There is one Formula 1 record held by Sergio Pérez that Max Verstappen will never match. The Mexican left Red Bull Racing after finishing the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship.
The controversy surrounding the Mexican driver's departure from Red Bull Racing has been reignited in recent hours following a striking interview. Although the Dutchman is a four-time world champion, Checo matched him at times and, in fact, was entirely in the fight for the title against his teammate.
Checo's bad moments with the Austrian team put him in the eye of criticism and finger-pointing from the European press, who did not hesitate to demand that the Jalisco native be replaced; however, there is something Verstappen will never be able to do that Checo did in early 2022.
The Mexican driver is the first Red Bull driver to win a pole position in the last era of Formula 1 regulations. It was during the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, a race that Checo dominated from start to finish and which marked the beginning of one of his best moments as a driver in the top category.
What is Checo's history with Red Bull?
Pérez was signed by Red Bull at the end of 2020, when it seemed that the Mexican's Formula 1 career was coming to an end. He replaced Alexander Albon and played a key role in Verstappen's 2021 title win.
The Mexican drove for the Milton Keynes team for four seasons, winning five Grand Prix races and two constructors' titles during that time; however, his form was below average, especially in 2024: he finished eighth in the drivers' standings, while his teammate Max Verstappen was crowned champion with two races and one sprint to go.
In both 2022 and 2023, alongside Verstappen, he helped win the constructors' championship, finishing second in the standings in 2023 and securing a historic victory at the Monaco Grand Prix. However, his form was below average, especially in 2024: he finished eighth in the drivers' standings, while his teammate Max Verstappen was crowned champion with two races and one sprint to go.
After months of rumors, the decision was made and announced that Liam Lawson would replace Pérez in 2025, becoming Verstappen's fifth teammate at Red Bull. After weeks of speculation, the Mexican driver confirmed his return to the top flight with Cadillac for the 2026 World Championship.