Pérez at the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix
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Born | Sergio Pérez Mendoza 26 January 1990 Guadalajara, Mexico |
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Formula One World Championship career | |
Nationality | Mexican |
2017 team | Force India-Mercedes |
Car number | 11 |
Entries | 117 (114 starts) |
Championships | 0 |
Wins | 0 |
Podiums | 7 |
Career points | 367 |
Pole positions | 0 |
Fastest laps | 3 |
First entry | 2011 Australian Grand Prix |
Last entry | 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix |
2016 position | 7th (101 pts) |
Sergio Pérez Mendoza (Spanish [ˈseɾxjo ˈpeɾes] ; born 26 January 1990) also known as "Checo" Pérez, is a Mexican racing driver, currently driving for Force India.
Pérez was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy until 2012. He also took his first Formula One podium at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix with Sauber, a drive which won him plaudits and fuelled speculation of a move to Ferrari in the near future. However, Pérez later told reporters that he expected to stay with Sauber until at least the end of the 2012 season. Due to his young age and performance, he has been referred to as "The Mexican Wunderkind".
Pérez joined McLaren for the 2013 season however the car failed to deliver the team a single podium finish. Subsequently for the 2014 season, the team decided to replace Pérez with Danish driver Kevin Magnussen very late into the season almost leaving Pérez without a seat. In December 2013, it was announced that Force India had signed Pérez in a €15 million deal.
Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Sergio Pérez is the youngest child of Antonio Pérez Garibay and Marilú Pérez (née Mendoza); he also has an older sister Paola and an older brother Antonio Pérez, who competes in the NASCAR Mexico Series, a championship held in Mexico.