The “good” second seasons for “Checo” Pérez – El Financiero

The end of the previous season left F1 fans full of adrenaline, and despite the fourth season of recent days campaign to surviveNothing beats getting back on the tracks with the roar of engines.

As the 2022 Formula 1 season kicks off this weekend in Bahrain, Mexican driver Sergio “Chico” Perez faces a strong commitment, as it is. its second season Behind the steering wheel of Red Bull.

After ‘Checo’ was a vital piece in the last race of 2021, in Abu Dhabi, after dueling to the limit and keeping Lewis Hamilton at bay until teammate Max Verstappen could catch up, the demand for 2022 will be even greater as the Austrian team wants World Makers title He can’t take it from Mercedes.

The “good news” for the guy from Guadalajara is that in his 11 years in first class, Its second season With three of the four teams he’s worked with, they’ve represented a solid evolution in his performance and results.

“I am looking forward to the new season. You automatically feel more emotional as you enter your second year with a team. I feel more prepared because now I know exactly how it works and what the philosophy of the team is, and that will make a difference,” the Mexican said.

The dream begins in Sauber

After making his Sauber debut in 2011, the year he only took 14 points, the Mexican made significant progress for 2012, when he finally added 66 units to finish the race. Tenth place in the tournament. In addition, in that year “Checo” rose to the podium twice in second place (Malaysia and Italy) and once in third place in Canada.

This performance led him to sign with McLaren where he did not have the expected results and was only there for a year.

Experience with Force India

‘Checo’ arrived in 2014 with another humble team, Force India, and in his first campaign he scored 59 points, finishing 10th in the tournament. However, the following year, there were 78 units, which meant uniting the Mexican as the star driver for the team, with whom he achieved two very competitive seasons, having reached 101 and 100 points in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

In 2018, Force India ran into financial problems and was sold to Canadian businessman Lawrence Stroll, who changed the name to Racing Point, in a complicated transition year for Perez.

Consolidation in Racing Point

The 2020 season will be the best for Sergio Perez even before his arrival at Red Bull. Despite facing the fact that his Racing Point teammate was Lance Stroll, the owner’s son, ‘Checo’ stood out by reaching 125 points and finishing fourth in the championship, Without being part of an elite team.

In addition, in a season that saw the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mexican celebrated his first victory in the Sakhir Grand Prix, at Bahrain Circuit. His performances that year allowed him to be the last-minute signature of Red Bull, who arrived with the difficult task of pairing up with Max Verstappen, a specialist on his teammates.

‘Checo’ challenges in 2022

Having served as Verstappen’s coach in 2021, ‘Checo’ will have many personal and team goals. One of them is over 190 points and fourth in the championship, and although the task against Max and Hamilton will be complicated, his sights must be on. George Russellwho arrives at Mercedes to replace Valtteri Bottas.

Perez struggled a lot on arrival at Red Bull, where he needed five races to get to the podium, with his victory in Azerbaijan, as well as being out on points six times, but this year he’s already had time to work his full time pre-season.

The 2022 season begins on Friday with free practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix, with team cars expected to be seen with the new regulations for the first time in “real” competition and the continuing rivalry between Verstappen and Hamilton.