And it didn't turn out to be as interesting as many would have expected. 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. He also became the youngest driver to win a competition in the category, after obtaining special permission from the Federation to participate in the 80cc Shifter. 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. The reason for shortening Sergio to Checo is because sometimes little kids (younger brothers/cousins) have trouble pronouncing names correctly and in spanish Ser-gio could be heard as Che-co by a kid.. same as how Ig-na-cio can be heard as Na-cho.. etc 14 zushimikudyo Valtteri Bottas 8 mo. Why is Sergio Perez nicknamed Checo? Where did his name come from? you may wonder. [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. [62] On 12 December 2013 (exactly a month after it was announced he would leave McLaren), Force India confirmed that Prez would join Nico Hlkenberg in their driver line-up for 2014 in a 15 million Euro deal. Leclerc cut across the Casio Triangle, and blocked Prez from making an overtake. By now, his achievements were bringing hm to the attention of scouts for Escuderia Telmex. He would play racing games on the setup, which had a real-life car seat, steering wheel, and pedals for acceleration and brake. Max Verstappen is calling his Red Bull Racing teammate a bad name. I've had some tough fights in F1 but not quite as dirty as that. According to him, as quoted by the Sun, Its not really that complicated or interesting. In France, he retired from the race with an engine failure. In the finale at Abu Dhabi, when Max Verstappen was trailing over 8 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton in a do-or-die race for the championship, it was Sergio Perez who defended against all odds, bringing the gap down to almost a second, which later helped Max clinch the drivers championship. However, many F1 fans have no idea why he is called that. 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. In the same year, he was also invited to attend the Easy Kart 125 Shootout, where he competed against drivers from around the world and won the race, again as the youngest driver. Max Verstappen is calling his Red Bull Racing teammate a bad name. At the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Prez qualified on the front row in 2nd place, just 0.035 seconds behind polesitter Lewis Hamilton, outqualifying his teammate Max Verstappen in P3. In the race he jumped Leclerc on the start and built a 2.5 second gap, which he maintained until his teammate Max Verstappen overtook him on Lap 14 after the order no fighting was issued to Prez if Verstappen were to try to overtake him. Prez's car was fixed in time for the start of the race, although he was required to start from the back. He later made the same mistake while overtaking Lewis Hamilton, again losing time. Bad as in awesome. With the race boiling down to a final lap title shootout, Red Bull did not want to risk Perez stopping out on track. Prez said that this action was taken to save the team and its employees from a winding-up order instigated by other creditors, which would have resulted in the team's collapse. [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]. With an already slow car, Prez dropped back to sixth place. [41] He finished outside the points in the next three races despite recording the fastest lap in Monaco,[42] before Prez achieved his second career podium at the Canadian Grand Prix, finishing the race in third place, having started fifteenth. However, in the 4th season of the Netflix series Drive to Survive, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner funnily revealed a different meaning of Checo to Yuki Tsunoda, Max Verstappen, and Pierre Gasly. Responding to the question, Perez said, "In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname 'Checo'. being short for Joseph. [119], Prez qualified 2nd for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, 2 tenths behind Charles Leclerc due to power loss and lack of a tow. As quoted by the Planet F1, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said, Hes been a great team-mate this year, I think. Discover more news. Unable to pass the Mercedes, Prez then switched strategies and pitted for fresh tyres and chased down Bottas in the final stages. At the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Prez qualified in 7th place, starting in 6th place due to a grid penalty for Lando Norris. The first app Checo looks at in the morning is the CNBC app to check on his investments in the stock market. Prez got the sixteenth podium of his career and his sixth with Red Bull Racing. and Racing Point. Sorry, there's no story behind it! said Perez, according to the Sun. Sergio Perez has long been called Checo on the paddock, but still, many fans dont know why he is nicknamed that; The Mexican answers. [64] At the Chinese Grand Prix, Prez started 16th and after gaining four places at the start, was able to overtake both McLarens and Daniil Kvyat's Toro Rosso to finish 9th. And all of that revived his nickname, making him popular amongst Red Bull and Max Verstappens fans as Checo.. He said: "Its not really that complicated or interesting. Sergio Perez revealed in 2013 the reason behind his nickname. I really enjoy looking at the stock market and I even own some stocks too. At the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Prez's defensive work against Hamilton helped his teammate Max Verstappen close a seven second gap to Hamilton, which was crucial in Verstappen's title victory. He himself believes that he deserves more credit for his attack, as he said in an interview quoted by the Sports Rush, I prefer to be the minister of attack. Sergio Prez a great admirer of Club Amrica. After qualifying third in the rain, Prez passed Max Verstappen and went from third to second, only behind his teammate Lance Stroll, starting with full wet rain tyres and changing for intermediate tyres on lap 10 of 58. 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). [79], In a similar manner to 2018, Prez fared far better during the second half of the season. Interestingly, the name Pepe is also given to Mexican people called Jose Luis, with Jose, in some cases. He loves Kimi Raikkonen and sees a future world champion in Oscar Piastri. Upgrades were introduced in Barcelona with a seventh-place finish indicating an improvement in the team's form. Checo is the nickname given to all people called Sergio in Mexico, according to the man himself. By Mauricio Saenz Responding to the question, Perez said, "In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname 'Checo'. Force India signed Prez for the 2014 season with a 15million contract. And it didn't turn out to be as interesting as many would have expected. Since Prez announced his departure from Racing Point there was support from the media for him, with The Race saying it will be a "huge injustice were Perez not to be on the 2021 grid.". He then returned to the sport with Force India, where he had some impressive seasons, including a podium finish in 2016. He jumped up to 2nd on the opening lap of the race, after beating Charles Leclerc off the line. The best drivers in the He finished 7th in Austria and moved up to 6th in the standings after Max Verstappen was out of the race on the first lap. Its not really that complicated or interesting. On the way to the grid at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, Prez crashed, having skidded into the barriers at Les Combes. 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. Sergio Perez Mendoza, also known as Checo Perez, has been a firm fixture on the Formula 1 grid since 2011. Post race Prez said the matter was "discussed internally" and they are going to put it "behind" themselves. Sergio Perez revealed in 2013 the reason behind his nickname. This was followed by a gearbox failure while running seventh in Italy, before he scored a point in Singapore after losing ninth place to Felipe Massa. Responding to the question, Perez said, "In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname 'Checo'. This years drivers championship is over, with Verstappen sealing the title in Japan. Its not really that complicated or interesting. Post-race, he was investigated for a safety car infringement; ultimately his win was allowed to stand, with him receiving a reprimand and a 5 second penalty. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Prez qualified 5th, citing not driving the car in FP1, where he was replaced by Jri Vips. Sergio Perez playing F1 on his home gaming setup 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. Many even believe he got a stint with a good team very late in his career despite having some impressive skills. Get the Checo Perez mug. Why is Sergio Perez called Checo? The reasons why Sergio "Checo" Perez is a faithful follower of Club America. Due to his young age and performance, he was referred to as "The Mexican Wunderkind". Sauber subsequently announced a partnership with Prez's sponsor Telmex. 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. With the race boiling down to a final lap title shootout, Red Bull did not want to risk Perez stopping out on track. 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. Due to his fresher tyres, he then passed Bottas to take 3rd place on lap 49. 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. [125] He was voted Driver of the Day at the same Grand Prix. 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 reason for shortening Sergio to Checo is because sometimes little kids (younger brothers/cousins) have trouble pronouncing names correctly and in spanish Ser-gio could be heard as Che-co by a kid.. same as how Ig-na-cio can be heard as Na-cho.. etc 14 zushimikudyo Valtteri Bottas 8 mo. The nickname is a shortened version of Prezs last name, a trend common to many drivers across the world. He remained 7th in the standings for the rest of the season. He also collided with Sergey Sirotkin, an action that resulted in a drive-through penalty. [31] After taking part in the first practice session of the Canadian Grand Prix, Prez did not feel well enough and decided not to take any further part, and was replaced by Pedro de la Rosa.[32]. Sergio Perez was given his nickname by his fans in Mexico. The following year saw him become the youngest driver to compete in the 125cc Shifter Regional category. [121][122], At the Belgian Grand Prix, Prez qualified third but was promoted to second due to his teammate's grid penalties. 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. 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. Why Is Sergio Perez Called Checo? In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname 'Checo'. He was again knocked out in Baku where he thought he could challenge for the win before colliding with Ocon. Leclercs emotional phone call to Perez after Mexican GP. This article is about the racing driver. Prez finished the first three races of the season outside the points. He had a strong start to the season and even achieved his first-ever win at the Sakhir Grand Prix. He was born as the youngest child of Antonio Prez Garibay and Maril Mendoza de Prez in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Also read: 33-year-old Daniel Ricciardo feels age wont hurt hopes of returning to F1 in 2024. [46] Maldonado received a double penalty in the form of a reprimand and a 10,000 fine after the race. [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. At Red Bull, he bagged his first pole and also his highest career championship finish, P3. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. said Perez. [68] At the 2015 Hungarian Grand Prix during the first practice session he suffered a rear suspension failure and lost control of his car which led to a barrel roll that destroyed his car, he was able to walk away from the accident unscathed. The Formula 1 World Championship It is the main international motorsport competition, the most popular and also the most prestigious. He won his first GP2 Asia Series race at Sakhir, winning from lights-to-flag in the sprint race having started from pole position. Prez achieved his ninth F1 podium at the Turkish Grand Prix. 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. Jon Wilde 09 Nov 2021 11:20 PM. He was allowed to live in a restaurant owned by his team manager for four months. Sergio Perez responded to the topic of why he is known as Checo in 2013. Sorry, theres no story behind it! He finished the season in 10th place in the championship with 52 points, comfortably ahead of teammate Stroll. Throughout most of the race, Prez successfully prevented Leclerc from re-overtaking him. Full Spectrum Services LLP 2022 | All Rights Reserved. 3. Why is Sergio Perez nicknamed Checo? As a result, Prez and his car's outstanding tyre management got him well into the points, and ultimately, to a podium finish. 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. The driver has signed a contract until 2024 with Red Bull, receiving his most recent extension last year. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. He failed to start the Malaysian Grand Prix, after his car encountered gearbox issues before the start of the race. It was confirmed that he would also miss the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, as he had again tested positive for COVID-19. On 28 September 2012, Lewis Hamilton's decision to leave McLaren for Mercedes in 2013 was announced, and Prez was subsequently confirmed as Hamilton's replacement. After Leclerc spun, Prez subsequently coasted to 2nd, behind teammate Max Verstappen. However, this iconic defense by Checo cant take credit away from his attacking skills! In 1997, he participated in the karting Youth Class, where he was the youngest driver in the category and earned a win and five podium finishes and finished fourth in the championship. Sorry, there's no story behind it! said Perez, according to the Sun. [49] In the race, he was forced to retire in the first turn of the first lap after Romain Grosjean caused a spectacular accident. He was the first Mexican driver to compete at this level of motorsport since Giovanni Aloi took part in International Formula 3000 in 1990. 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. 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: Horner said, Hiring Checo is a bit of a risk. He's extremely quick and he did a great job today but some of it is unnecessary and an issue when you are doing those speeds. The Mexican racer has an elder sister Paola and his elder brother Antonio, who is a retired stock car racing driver. [65] At the Austrian Grand Prix, Prez set his third fastest lap of his career whilst also giving Force India their third fastest lap in their history. [12] Prez then won the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix with the team and secured the second Formula 1 Grand Prix win of his career. Sergio Perez playing F1 on his home gaming setup Prez again let Verstappen through on lap 49, the team citing Verstappen being on the three stop compared to Prez's two. The reason given by the Red Bull superstar is not as interesting as it was thought. In Monaco, Prez scored his sixth (and Force India's fourth) podium finish in wet and changing conditions and moved to ninth in the Drivers' Championship standings. Formula One F1 United States Grand Prix Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, U.S. October 23, 2022 Red Bulls Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez during the drivers parade ahead of the race REUTERS/Brian Snyder. It was the first time in his career that he scored podiums on consecutive weekends.[104]. 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. Its not really that complicated or interesting. After the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix, Prez confirmed he had committed to Force India for the 2017 season. Checo is the nickname given to all people called Sergio in Mexico, according to the man himself. At the Turkish Grand Prix, he finished third to score another podium finish, after an "intense" wheel to wheel battle with Lewis Hamilton in the wet.[106][107]. However, he faced criticism after a poor performance in Singapore. was operated for. Prez finished in second place, behind Verstappen, giving Red Bull another 1-2 result. Prez confirmed on 13 November 2013 that he would be leaving McLaren at the end of the season to be replaced by Kevin Magnussen. [128], During the next round in So Paulo, Prez qualified ninth under tricky circumstances, elevating himself to fifth place during the Sprint race. [109] Verstappen praised Perez after the race stating Its very rare to have a team mate like that he was a real team player and I really hope we can continue this for a long time.[110]. Sergio was actually let go by Mclaren for refusing to stop selling his cds in the pitlane to starstruck fans. All Sergios is immediately given the moniker Checo in Mexico, where I grew up. He said: "Its not really that complicated or interesting. That will be interesting to see. Sergio Perez revealed in 2013 the reason behind his nickname. The Red Bull boss said he learnt that morning that it means Big d**k in Perezs homeland. Sergio Perezs F1 career has been a show of continuous and rigorous hard work, and it would be absolutely justified if we said that he has aged like a fine wine! Sergio Prez a great admirer of Club Amrica. Sorry, theres nothing to it! Similarly to how Jim stands for James in English, Checo stands for Sergio in Mexican Spanish. Sergio Perez, otherwise known as Checo, is a Formula One driver from Mexico. Sorry, theres no story behind it! and Racing Point. Interestingly, the name Pepe is also given to Mexican people called Jose Luis, with Jose, in some cases. He took a career-best seventh at the British Grand Prix and eleventh in Germany. The Formula One professional racing driver Sergio Perez's nickname is Checo according to his Wikipedia bio. Over the last two seasons, Perez has dropped massive drives and moments after receiving the car that complemented his ability. The reasons why Sergio "Checo" Perez is a faithful follower of Club America. Its not really that complicated or interesting. When he started driving, Sergio always entered races as Chico! He let teammate Verstappen past with the understanding that Verstappen would let Prez back past if he couldn't gain any positions, due to Prez' fight with Leclerc for second place in the drivers championship. Prez competed in the US-based Skip Barber National Championship in 2004. As quoted by the Planet F1, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said, Hes been a great team-mate this year, I think. 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. [53] He also replaced Hamilton in McLaren's cartoon Tooned. [14][15] Prez is a Catholic. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname 'Checo'. Also read:FIA propose Wind Tunnel time punishment to Red Bull for $1.8 Million Budget cap breach. [117][118] The race started in wet conditions with everyone on the full wet tyres. [70], In the European Grand Prix in Baku Prez once again finished third, recovering from a gearbox change penalty as a result of a crash during free practice, having been fast enough to qualify on the front row. Prez finished the season with 190 points, scoring 1 win and 5 podiums. At the Belgian Grand Prix, the team came back strong with Prez and Ocon qualifying 4th and 3rd, and finishing 5th and 6th, respectively. 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. The race hit the three-hour limit, and Prez held on to win the third race of his Formula One career, from Sainz and his teammate Verstappen. (Checo Perez)'s got so much rear! After leading the championship early in the season, he eventually finished fourth in the drivers' standings. He ended the season in 8th place in the championship with 62 points, finishing ahead of teammate Ocon and being the only non-Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull driver to finish on the podium that season. Let us tell you, but heads up: there are two versions, so pick your favorite wisely. Sergio Perez Mendoza, also known as Checo Perez, has been a firm fixture on the Formula 1 grid since 2011. Bad as in awesome. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. Its not actually that complicated or exciting, he said. The Formula 1 World Championship It is the main international motorsport competition, the most popular and also the most prestigious. by honestmaxverstappenfan November 29, 2021. 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. Racing Point saw 2019 as a transitional season, with much of the work on that year's car being disrupted by the administration events of the previous year. Discover more news. To watch Sergio 'Checo' Perez in action, follow the 2021 F1 season as the Mexican drives alongside Max Verstappen for Red Bull Racing Honda. [114] He overtook Carlos Sainz Jr. at the start and later fought with George Russell for third place, which turned into a battle for second after teammate Max Verstappen went wide. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. On the last lap, he was involved in a collision with Felipe Massa, who crashed into the back of his Force India sending both cars heavily into the barriers. being short for Joseph. [75] He ended his streak of 17 points finishes as he ended up colliding with Daniil Kvyat in Monaco. 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. Why is Sergio Perez nicknamed Checo? Sorry, theres no story behind it! he concluded. He won with a 7.5 second advantage to Leclerc. being short for Joseph. [98] During the formation lap for the race, his car switched off due to an electrical failure. 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. In the process, he won two-thirds of the races and a similar proportion of pole positions, and finished all but two races on the podium. Its not really that complicated or interesting. The first one is when, in 2013, Perez himself shed light on why he is called Checo. Sergio Perez was given his nickname by his fans in Mexico. The penalty also meant his teammate Max Verstappen won the championship. All Sergios is immediately given the moniker Checo in Mexico, where I grew up. Its not really that complicated or interesting. 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. [115] Prez was initially unsatisfied with the team orders despite being satisfied with the result, saying "Im definitely here to win and I think if I was on the three-stop, I should have won the race. 32 years of age, he is in the senior years of his career. The reasoning behind Perezs nickname is, in fact, a simple one. But six years on, youll be amazed by the things you still dont know about Force Indias Mexican driver. The reason for shortening Sergio to Checo is because sometimes little kids (younger brothers/cousins) have trouble pronouncing names correctly and in spanish Ser-gio could be heard as Che-co by a kid.. same as how Ig-na-cio can be heard as Na-cho.. etc 14 zushimikudyo Valtteri Bottas 8 mo. Its the Mexican Minister of defense, given to him by none other than Verstappen himself. He made up a 20-second deficit to catch Bottas on the final lap, but was unable to pass his rival for a 3rd consecutive finish on the podium and finished just half a second behind in 4th place. The reason is pretty straightforward in Mexico, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. Conclusion Perez has built a reputation in F1 as a combat driver who loves to fight his way through the pack. Sergio Perez, otherwise known as Checo, is a Formula One driver from Mexico. Its the . During the third part of qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix, Prez lost control of his car upon exiting the circuit's tunnel section, swung to the right and crashed into the barrier, before sliding across the chicane and hitting the TecPro barrier with a heavy side impact. Checo is the nickname given to all people called Sergio in Mexico, according to the man himself. But six years on, youll be amazed by the things you still dont know about Force Indias Mexican driver. [43], In the European Grand Prix, Prez qualified in fifteenth place, citing a handling imbalance and the car feeling "unpredictable" as reasons for the gap to Kobayashi in seventh. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in 1990, Sergio Prez was interested in motor racing from an early age. The race was shortened to 59 laps because of the 3 hour time limit due to safety cars and an hour-long delay. 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: Its not actually that complicated or exciting, he said. Prez began his career in karting at the age of six in 1996. Sergio Perez responded to the topic of why he is known as Checo in 2013. All rights reserved. In qualifying, Prez received a tow from his teammate on his final flying lap and qualified second, ahead of Leclerc. His tyres degraded quickly and both Ferrari cars and his teammate were right behind him, but unable to overtake.