Sergio Pérez: The Story Of A Racing Legend

How Much Is Sergio Pérez Worth?

Let me tell you about Sergio Pérez, the Mexican racing sensation with a net worth of $50 million. Known affectionately as "Checo," Pérez has been tearing up tracks for years. His career has seen him race for top teams like Sauber, McLaren, Force India, Racing Point, and most recently, Red Bull Racing. Every victory and championship has contributed to his impressive fortune, making him one of the most successful Formula One drivers of his generation.

Where Did It All Begin?

Sergio Michel "Checo" Pérez Mendoza was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, on January 26, 1990. From a young age, racing was in his blood. His father, Antonio, raced cars before managing the career of Indycar and sportscar driver Adrián Fernández. It’s no surprise that Pérez found his passion early. At just six years old, he started karting and quickly showed promise, racking up four victories in his first year of competition in the junior category. By 1997, Pérez was already competing in the karting Youth Class, where he became the youngest driver to secure a win, five podium finishes, and a fourth-place championship finish. With the support of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim through Escuderia Telmex, Pérez moved into single-seater cars at 14, competing in the US-based Skip Barber National Championship.

Breaking Into the Racing World

Europe and the Early Years

In 2005, Pérez made the leap to Europe to compete in Formula BMW. Life wasn’t easy—during his first season, he spent four months living in a restaurant owned by his team boss. But perseverance paid off, and at 17, Pérez moved to Oxford to compete in British Formula 3. Over the next two years, he not only won the National Class in 2007 but also finished fourth in the International Class in 2008. His talent was undeniable, and he soon graduated to the prestigious GP2 Asia Series. In his debut race in Bahrain, Pérez claimed a stunning lights-to-flag victory. By his second year in GP2, he had won races at Monaco, Silverstone, Hockenheim, Spa-Francorchamps, and Abu Dhabi, finishing as the runner-up to Pastor Maldonado.

Read also:

Peter Marc Jacobsons Journey From Tv Production To Financial Success

The Formula One Journey Begins

In 2011, Pérez became the first Mexican to compete in the Formula One World Championship since Héctor Rebaque in 1981. Driving for Sauber, Pérez quickly proved himself, scoring points in his debut season and establishing a reputation as a fierce competitor. In 2012, he even challenged Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari for the lead in the Malaysian Grand Prix and held his own at Monza. The following year, Pérez joined McLaren, but despite his skill, he didn’t secure a single podium finish. As a result, McLaren decided to replace him with Kevin Magnussen.

Undeterred, Pérez signed with Force India in 2014 on a lucrative $16.5 million contract. He remained with the team until 2018, when it went into administration and reformed as Racing Point. Pérez’s contract was extended for three years in 2019, but in 2020, Racing Point announced that he would leave the team at the end of the season, with four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel taking his place. But Pérez wasn’t done yet. He secured a stunning victory at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, breaking the record for the most starts before a race win at 190. Then, in 2022, he achieved another milestone by earning his first Formula One pole position at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, breaking the record for the most races before a first pole position at 215.

A New Era with Red Bull Racing

In 2021, Pérez signed with Red Bull Racing, marking a new chapter in his career. Shortly after his victory in Monaco that May, it was announced that he would stay with the team through the 2024 season. Pérez’s helmet design, inspired by the Mexican flag, changes every season, reflecting his pride in his heritage. His journey from karting to Formula One is nothing short of remarkable, and with each race, he continues to prove why he’s one of the best drivers in the world.