The Mexican race driver signed a contract extension with Red Bull before the Monaco Grand Prix and would be bagging $12 million a year salary. The reasoning behind Perezs nickname is, in fact, a simple one. Sorry, theres no story behind it!, And while Checo is one of his most commonly used nicknames by his fans, there was another name that emerged after Max Verstappen won the championship in 2021. [22] He finished fourteenth in the championship, driving for 4speed Media, and improved to sixth position the following year. Sorry, theres nothing to it! Similarly to how Jim stands for James in English, Checo stands for Sergio in Mexican Spanish. Jon Wilde 09 Nov 2021 11:20 PM. But he has also faced many challenges and faced criticism for his inconsistency on the track. Its not actually that complicated or exciting, he said. Sergio Michel Checo Prez Mendoza (Spanish born 26 January 1990), is a Mexican racing driver who races in Formula One for Red Bull Racing, previously known as Sauber, McLaren, Force India. [93], Prez won his first race at the Sakhir Grand Prix, becoming Formula 1's 110th race winner. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. said Perez. [55] He started the Malaysian Grand Prix from ninth on the grid, and finished the race in the same position, scoring his first points for McLaren. The nickname is a shortened version of Prezs last name, a trend common to many drivers across the world. Jun 19, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez of Mexico walks on the starting grid before the Montreal Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Due to his fresher tyres, he then passed Bottas to take 3rd place on lap 49. [citation needed] This drive won him plaudits and fuelled speculation of a move to Ferrari in the near future. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are With his F1 future secure till the 2024 season end, he now wishes to go for the title against his teammate Verstappen, who would obviously want to extend his title count next year. Sorry, theres no story behind it! he concluded. Sorry, theres nothing to it! Similarly to how Jim stands for James in English, Checo stands for Sergio in Mexican Spanish. being short for Joseph. [79], In a similar manner to 2018, Prez fared far better during the second half of the season. The reasons why Sergio "Checo" Perez is a faithful follower of Club America The 30-year-old Mexican driver made history this weekend in Mexican sports and has never hidden his passion for Club America. [24], On 4 October 2010, Sauber announced that Prez would join the team in 2011, replacing Nick Heidfeld. Of course, Im aggressive in the race, but I never just throw the door without pardon. His three wins and 13 podiums in the last two years only tell a little story about the aggression that he has carried into the 2020 season. [53] He also replaced Hamilton in McLaren's cartoon Tooned. Alas, this confusion was cleared up by Sergio Perez himself in an interview back in 2013, asking the Mexican driver about his unusual nickname. Turns out, the story around it is a bit underwhelming: Why Sergio Perez is called Checo? [127], At his home race in Mexico, Prez qualified fourth and overtook George Russell to once again finish on the podium in third place, behind Lewis Hamilton and teammate Verstappen. He moved to Arden International for the main 2009 GP2 Series, driving alongside fellow Formula Three graduate Edoardo Mortara. On Sunday, he climbed through the field to second place, passing on track, among others, Kimi Rikknen, Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa and Alonso. WebFor non-Spanish speakers, the nickname Checo may seem to have greater meaning behind it or perhaps an in-joke from Perezs friends and family. Interestingly, the name Pepe is also given to Mexican people called Jose Luis, with Jose, in some cases. [50], Prez took his third podium at the Italian Grand Prix. claims Sebastian Vettel was his first love after seeing him at the Indian Grand On the first lap, Prez was hit by Leclerc and went from 2nd place to 18th and last. until he was successfully sued by the singer 17 times, when he cleverly changed a letter and outwitted his former inspiration. The following year saw him become the youngest driver to compete in the 125cc Shifter Regional category. Over the last two seasons, Perez has dropped massive drives and moments after receiving the car that complemented his ability. Checo is the nickname given to all people called Sergio in Mexico, according to the man himself. As quoted by the Planet F1, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said, Hes been a great team-mate this year, I think. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are He jumped up to 2nd on the opening lap of the race, after beating Charles Leclerc off the line. (Checo Perez)'s got so much rear! Checo Checks The Stock Market. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. said Perez. [100] It was his first time starting on the front row in his career. Manan Goel is a Formula 1 author at EssentiallySports. He finished fourth overall which was his best ever championship result, which he equalled in 2021. Sergio Perez playing F1 on his home gaming setup According to him, as quoted by the Sun, Its not really that complicated or interesting. The driver has signed a contract until 2024 with Red Bull, receiving his most recent extension last year. WebSergio Perez with his pet dogs Amid the COVID-19 lockdown, Checo Perez ordered a gaming setup for his home to replicate the feel of being in a formula 1 racing car. In the season-opening race in Australia, Prez qualified 15th and finished in 11th position, later describing the weekend as "difficult" for himself and the team as a whole. [18] In an interview in 2012 for the official Formula One website, Prez revealed that if he had not been a driver he would have liked to be a lawyer. [48] At the Belgian Grand Prix, he made it into Q3 and qualified fifth fastest. He won his first Formula One Grand Prix at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, breaking the record for the number of starts before a race win at 190. [121][122], At the Belgian Grand Prix, Prez qualified third but was promoted to second due to his teammate's grid penalties. For 2008, he and T-Sport graduated to the premier International Class of the championship, where he was one of the few drivers to be equipped with a Mugen Honda engine. [97], At the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix, Prez made his debut with the Red Bull Racing team finishing in 5th place. Horner said, Hiring Checo is a bit of a risk. The Formula 1 World Championship It is the main international motorsport competition, the most popular and also the most prestigious. All Sergios is immediately given the moniker Checo in Mexico, where I grew up. But standing true to his name and experience in Formula 1, Checo delivered a championship-defining performance for Max Verstappen after having played an ultimate team player all season. In the race, he conserved his tyres up to lap 24. Prez was unable to keep up with Verstappen, attributing it to tyre degradation. Jon Wilde 09 Nov 2021 11:20 PM. During qualifying on Saturday he came 11th. Following the incident Rikknen said that Prez should be "punched in the face". On Saturday, he failed to qualify for Q3 and was twelfth on the grid. [124], Prez qualified second for the Singapore Grand Prix behind Charles Leclerc. Prez finished the season with 305 points, with 2 wins, 1 pole position, 11 podiums and 3 fastest laps, his best season in Formula 1 yet. He saw his first race when F1 visited India in 2011, and since then, his romance with the sport has been seasonal until he took up this role in 2020. Sergio Perez revealed in 2013 the reason behind his nickname. Prez finished the season with 190 points, scoring 1 win and 5 podiums. He won with a 7.5 second advantage to Leclerc. Why is Sergio Perez called Checo? He took his first Formula One podium at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix with Sauber. Sorry, there's no story behind it! said Perez, according to the Sun. It was the first time in his career that he scored podiums on consecutive weekends.[104]. Out-qualifying his teammate for a second time, Prez started in the tenth position for the Monaco Grand Prix however a first-lap collision with Jenson Button meant an early retirement for the first time in the season. Another points finish came with 9th place in Spain. being short for Joseph. Sergio Perez, otherwise known as Checo, is a Formula One driver from Mexico. I really think I drive fairly. Sorry, there's no story behind it! said Perez, according to the Sun. He later criticised the Venezuelan, claiming "Everybody has concerns about him" before adding, "He is a driver who doesn't know that we are risking our lives and has no respect at all". The Red Bull superstar Sergio Perez is one of the best drivers on the grid right now. He said: "Its not really that complicated or interesting. He made his pitstop on lap 21 for hard tyres. Over the last two seasons, Perez has dropped massive drives and moments after receiving the car that complemented his ability. Get the Checo Perez mug. After Max Verstappens triumph in the Abu Dhabi GP, which made him the absolute champion of F1, social media exploded because of the shocking rythm of the race and all the actions that were experienced in it, highlighting especially the participation of Sergio Checo Prez. "[116], At the Monaco Grand Prix, Prez qualified third, crashing at the Portier corner on his final attempt. being short for Joseph. [60] Prez recorded a season-best fifth-place finish in India, finishing four seconds shy of the podium, a result that left him "extremely satisfied".[61]. [44] He improved to ninth place in the race, but raised poor qualifying form as an issue for the team. [75] He ended his streak of 17 points finishes as he ended up colliding with Daniil Kvyat in Monaco. Discover more news. Driving for a team sponsored by Mexican telecommunications company Telmex, he finished eleventh in the championship. Sorry, theres no story behind it! he concluded. In the second half of the season, he out-qualified his teammate in six of the last nine races and eight times throughout the season. The origins of the nickname Checo Sergio Perez In an interview in 2013, Perez was asked how he got his nickname. Prez confirmed on 13 November 2013 that he would be leaving McLaren at the end of the season to be replaced by Kevin Magnussen. In the race he managed to run third for most of the time, but was caught out by a Safety Car with himself on Medium tyres compared to everyone else's Soft tyres. [16], Both Prez brothers are association football fans, stating that they thought about leaving car racing to play professionally. With the race boiling down to a final lap title shootout, Red Bull did not want to risk Perez stopping out on track. Team principal Christian Horner said it was tactical to not start on the pole due to the slipstream effect, which could help a driver take the lead going into the Les Combes corner. Except for a retirement in Singapore due to an oil leak,[80] he scored points in every race after the summer break, including a strong 6th-place finish in Belgium. [123] Prez had a bad start and was attacked by the two Mercedes cars, but eventually moved back into second. [129], At the final round in Abu Dhabi, Prez and Leclerc were tied on 280 points for second place. On Lap 17, Prez pitted onto intermediate tyres from third place, later taking the lead on Lap 22 after Sainz pitted. After a safety car, he recovered and was battling Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for second, where he ultimately finished. Interestingly, the name Pepe is also given to Mexican people called Jose Luis, with Jose, in some cases. He lost time fighting Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, as he went wide at the chicane while attempting an overtake. When he started driving, Sergio always entered races as Chico! [27] However, both Sauber cars were subsequently disqualified for infringing technical regulations. But six years on, youll be amazed by the things you still dont know about Force Indias Mexican driver. Prez moved to Europe in 2005 to compete in the German Formula BMW ADAC series. Besides the podium finish in Russia, he managed three further top-five finishes in Belgium, the US, and Abu Dhabi; he scored 63 of his 78 points in the final nine rounds. In 2020, Perez signed with Racing Point, which was later renamed Aston Martin. Discover more news. Tanish Chachra is the Motorsport editor at The SportsRush. [56][57], In the Bahrain GP, he started 12th on the grid and finished 6th ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (8th) and his teammate Jenson Button (10th), with whom he had a fierce duel in which they touched on a couple of occasions, increasing the competition between drivers in McLaren on the following races.[58]. [108] Prez retired from the race a few laps from the end because of suspected engine problems. WebSergio Michel "Checo" Prez Mendoza (Spanish: [sexjo pees] (); born 26 January 1990), is a Mexican racing driver who races in Formula One for Red Bull Racing, having previously driven for Sauber, McLaren, Force India, and Racing Point.He won his first Formula One Grand Prix at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, breaking the record for the number of starts before a race win at 190. On 28 July, it was announced that Prez would remain with Sauber into the 2012 season, alongside teammate Kobayashi. Sergio was actually let go by Mclaren for refusing to stop selling his cds in the pitlane to starstruck fans. Why is Sergio Perez nicknamed Checo? Now, Perez is vying for the second spot in the standings with only four races remaining, and the former is just a point above the Monegasque. Alas, this confusion was cleared up by Sergio Perez himself in an interview back in 2013, asking the Mexican driver about his unusual nickname. Turns out, the story around it is a bit underwhelming: (Checo Perez)'s got so much rear! "Sergio Perez aims to emulate his friend, Manchester United's Javier Hernandez, and win title for McLaren", "The Inside Line on Sauber's Sergio Perez", "Checo Prez meets with the media and presents his Foundation", "Perez joins Ferrari young driver scheme", "Sebastian Vettel beats Lewis Hamilton in Australian GP", "Sauber disqualified after Sergio Perez impresses", "Perez not seriously hurt in Monaco GP crash", "Sergio Perez to miss rest of Canadian Grand Prix", "Kobayashi and Perez to stay at Sauber in 2012", "The Ferrari Driver Academy according to Perez and Bianchi", "Alonso holds off stellar Perez for Sepang victory", "In Malaysia, Alonso Wins Race but Perez Wins Stardom", "Alonso rains on McLaren parade as Perez auditions", "Malaysian Grand Prix 2012: Sergio Prez states his case for promotion to Ferrari with second-placed finish", "Sauber duo disappointed with Chinese Grand Prix result after qualifying promise", "Sergio Perez laments Sauber's poor qualifying form in Valencia", "Angry Perez tells FIA to act on Maldonado after British Grand Prix accident", "Double Penalty for Maldonado after Perz crash", "Fernando Alonso wins tense race at Hockenheim", "Perez 'not too happy' despite personal best", "Race Button wins after first-corner carnage in Spa", "Hamilton supreme at Monza, as Perez shines again", "Sergio Perez gets Lewis Hamilton's McLaren seat", "Checo Prez joins Button for a new series of 'Tooned'. The 2019 season saw Racing Point Force India become Racing Point, retaining Prez as a driver. [111] In May 2022, shortly after his win in Monaco, it was announced Prez would stay with the team until the end of the 2024 season.[112]. Full Spectrum Services LLP 2022 | All Rights Reserved. Its not actually that complicated or exciting, he said. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Prez is the youngest child of Antonio Prez Garibay and Maril Mendoza de Prez; he also has an older sister Paola and an older brother Antonio,[13] a retired stock car racing driver who competed in the NASCAR Mexico Series. [73][74] He was very consistent with his highest finish in 2017 a fourth place in Spain after two rivals collided at the start, and a third retired mid-race with a power unit failure. Prez scored the 20th podium of his Formula One career. But knowing his stature, itd be safe to assume hell be eager to line himself up in the front row of the grid until he has a car. Prez conducted the test with fellow academy member Jules Bianchi. [90][91] Prez was 3rd for the majority of the Bahrain Grand Prix after starting 5th, but an MGU-K electrical issue struck with only a few laps to go, forcing him to pull over and retire the car with flames billowing out of the power unit. Where did his name come from? you may wonder. After the Bahrain Grand Prix, Jenson Button said of Prez's driving style: I've raced with many team-mates over the years and with quite an aggressive team-mate in Lewis, but I'm not used to driving down the straight and then my team-mate coming along and wiggling his wheels at me and banging wheels with me at 300km/h. After Leclerc spun, Prez subsequently coasted to 2nd, behind teammate Max Verstappen. Horner has already stated that now Red Bull will focus on getting Perez the runner-up spot in the standings while clinching the constructors title win. I really enjoy looking at the stock market and I even own some stocks too. Prez switched to the British Formula 3 Championship for 2007. Checo is the nickname given to all people called Sergio in Mexico, according to the man himself. The Mexican had struggled for nearly a decade, jumping multiple ships on the grid, until he found his golden season at Racing Point in 2020 and subsequent relatively successful seasons at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen. Copyright: RU Sport Private Limited. He also participated in several races in Shifter 125cc and competed in Master Kadets, where he finished on the podium. Prez was unable to overtake Russell so he let Verstappen through, who too was unable to overtake Russell due to an issue with his DRS. On lap 39 his teammate Max Verstappen retired from the race due to mechanical problems and Prez was then running second behind Charles Leclerc, which he held till the finish. And it didn't turn out to be as interesting as many would have expected. Prez finished the season with 125 points, scoring one win and one podium. Interestingly, the name Pepe is also given to Mexican people called Jose Luis, with Jose, in some cases. He lost a position at the start to Lewis Hamilton because of getting boxed in and got the position back on lap 10. Oh, Ill pay a lot of beers. Why is Sergio Perez nicknamed Checo? He passed then-championship leader Sebastian Vettel for 3rd place with a few laps to go, making him the first driver to finish on the podium twice at the Baku City Circuit (in 2016 and 2018). And its been the same for him at Red Bull, but thanks to his heroics and teamwork, hes as much of a fan favorite as Max Verstappen. He would play racing games on the setup, which had a real-life car seat, steering wheel, and pedals for acceleration and brake. In the off-season, he contested two rounds of the 200910 GP2 Asia Series for Barwa Addax, ahead of a 2010 main series campaign with the team. The best drivers in the The reasoning behind Perezs nickname is, in fact, a simple one. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. On Lap 31, after not being allowed to switch with Verstappen by the team, Prez overtook Russell on the medium tyres when his teammate pitted and took the lead of the race, Charles Leclerc having retired earlier. Many even believe he got a stint with a good team very late in his career despite having some impressive skills. However, he faced criticism after a poor performance in Singapore. [85] After testing negative for COVID-19 after the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, Prez returned to race at the Spanish Grand Prix, he qualified fourth and finished the race in fifth position. Prez was subsequently given a five-place grid penalty for the next race, as the stewards decided he changed his racing line, causing Massa to crash into him. The Formula One professional racing driver Sergio Perez's nickname is Checo according to his Wikipedia bio. All rights reserved. And it didn't turn out to be as interesting as many would have expected. On lap 64 he took the lead and won the race ahead of Esteban Ocon and teammate Stroll. (Video) Mexican Spanish: DEJA CHECO (Mexican Spanish) How much do And while Checo is one of his most commonly used nicknames by his fans, there was another name that emerged after Max Verstappen won the championship in 2021. The nickname is a shortened version of Prezs last name, a trend common to many drivers across the world. By Mauricio Saenz Its not really that complicated or interesting. Checo Checks The Stock Market. Sergio Perez, otherwise known as Checo, is a Formula One driver from Mexico. Why is Sergio Perez called Checo? Sauber subsequently announced a partnership with Prez's sponsor Telmex. Ultimately, he finished the season in tenth place in the Drivers' Championship with 66 points, 6 more than teammate Kobayashi.[52]. [77] He later suffered a brake failure and retired from his home race in Mexico. -Lewis Hamilton. He remained 7th in the standings for the rest of the season. And it didn't turn out to be as interesting as many would have expected. [76] Shortly before the Belgian Grand Prix, Force India's assets were purchased by a consortium of investors led by Lawrence Stroll, father of Williams driver Lance Stroll. The Mexican race driver back in 2013 explained why his famous name called him. Due to this, he was unable to participate in the British Grand Prix. The reason given by the Red Bull superstar is not as interesting as it was thought. Christian Horner Once Hailed Golden Boy as a Dream to Manage. The race was shortened to 59 laps because of the 3 hour time limit due to safety cars and an hour-long delay. 3. Not bad as in terrible. Checo Checks The Stock Market. But the thing that happened most notably at Red Bull was the recognition of his talents and skills, which came into the spotlight. Grosjean crashed his car into Lewis Hamilton creating a domino effect which involved five cars. In 2003, he was leading both championships in the 125cc category but withdrew from the last seven races, which proved to be a disappointment in his title aspirations. [126], At the Japanese Grand Prix, Prez qualified fourth. The reason given by the Red Bull superstar is not as interesting as it was thought. [35] In the second round at Malaysia, he went on to battle with Fernando Alonso for the win. In France, he retired from the race with an engine failure. [103], At the 2021 French Grand Prix, Prez qualified in 4th place, starting behind Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas. It was confirmed that he would also miss the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, as he had again tested positive for COVID-19. After Max Verstappens triumph in the Abu Dhabi GP, which made him the absolute champion of F1, social media exploded because of the shocking rythm of the race and all the actions that were experienced in it, highlighting especially the participation of Sergio Checo Prez. Sergio Perez revealed in 2013 the reason behind his nickname. Responding to the question, Perez said, "In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname 'Checo'. He dropped to 7th in the championship after finishing 9th in Britain, behind his teammate and Verstappen finished 4th. Sorry, theres no story behind it!" The Formula 1 World Championship It is the main international motorsport competition, the most popular and also the most prestigious. Away from us, he loves to snuggle inside his books. The first one is when, in 2013, Perez himself shed light on why he is called Checo. To watch Sergio 'Checo' Perez in action, follow the 2021 F1 season as the Mexican drives alongside Max Verstappen for Red Bull Racing Honda. at Delhi University, he had been a geek for fiction and a nerd for sports. Leclercs emotional phone call to Perez after Mexican GP. by honestmaxverstappenfan November 29, 2021. (Checo Perez)'s got so much rear! All Sergios is immediately given the moniker Checo in Mexico, where I grew up. [81] Many of these points finishes came from low initial grid positions, including a 7th-place finish in Italy after starting 18th, 8th in Japan from 17th, and 10th in the United States[82] after starting from the pit lane.[83]. [101][102] In the race he made a strong start, moving up to 3rd place by lap 8. The reasons why Sergio "Checo" Perez is a faithful follower of Club America. [6], Up until 2012, Prez was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy. until he was successfully sued by the singer 17 times, when he cleverly changed a letter and outwitted his former inspiration. Prez stayed at Red Bull for the 2022 season. [33] On 13 September, Prez tested for Ferrari as part of the Ferrari Driver Academy in a Ferrari F60, Ferrari's car from the 2009 season. WebFor non-Spanish speakers, the nickname Checo may seem to have greater meaning behind it or perhaps an in-joke from Perezs friends and family. Will his performance keep up with his age as it has so far? Flag. In 1999, he raced in the 80cc Shifter category, taking three wins and finisheing third in the championship. Sergio Perez reveals why he is named Checo It's not really that complicated or interesting. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. He achieved his first pole position at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, on his 215th race start in Formula 1; therefore breaking the record for most races before a first pole position and also becoming the first Mexican driver to achieve a pole position in F1.