On the way to the grid at the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, Prez crashed, having skidded into the barriers at Les Combes. Sorry, theres no story behind it!" [11] In September 2020, Racing Point announced that Prez would be leaving the team at the end of the season as Sebastian Vettel, a four-time F1 world champion, had been signed to replace him. Prez pit the same lap for the slick hard tyres, and still emerged in the lead after a good out-lap. All Sergios is immediately given the moniker Checo in Mexico, where I grew up. 3. Prez passed Fernando Alonso and George Russell. Though, long ago, Perez revealed why that name called him, which he first received in his country- Mexico. On Saturday, he failed to qualify for Q3 and was twelfth on the grid. [40], At the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix, he qualified a career-best eighth, but finished the race in eleventh place after problems with pit strategy and his car's clutch. He also participated in several races in Shifter 125cc and competed in Master Kadets, where he finished on the podium. Unable to pass the Mercedes, Prez then switched strategies and pitted for fresh tyres and chased down Bottas in the final stages. He made his Formula One debut driving for Sauber during the 2011 season. He finished fourth overall, equalling his best championship result set in 2020. The deal was officially confirmed at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Prez signing a new two-year contract, until the end of the 2016 season.[67]. Sauber subsequently announced a partnership with Prez's sponsor Telmex. In the next round, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Prez qualified 7th as he was unable set a representative time in Q3 due to red flags. To watch Sergio 'Checo' Perez in action, follow the 2021 F1 season as the Mexican drives alongside Max Verstappen for Red Bull Racing Honda. In response, all three drivers burst out laughing. Flag. Bad as in awesome. After leading the championship early in the season, he eventually finished fourth in the drivers' standings. Someone who is called Sergio in Mexico its like for Jose is PePe or Jesus = Chuy, Alejandro= Alex. 32 years of age, he is in the senior years of his career. 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. However, he faced criticism after a poor performance in Singapore. I really think I drive fairly. Why Sergio Perez is called Checo? [46] Maldonado received a double penalty in the form of a reprimand and a 10,000 fine after the race. After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Force India was put into administration. 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: [25] He became the fifth Mexican to compete in Formula One, and the first since Hctor Rebaque competed between 1977 and 1981. But six years on, youll be amazed by the things you still dont know about Force Indias Mexican driver. On lap 64 he took the lead and won the race ahead of Esteban Ocon and teammate Stroll. But he has also faced many challenges and faced criticism for his inconsistency on the track. I just did a hot lap with Sergio Prez. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in 1990, Sergio Prez was interested in motor racing from an early age. Checo Checks The Stock Market. Sorry, theres no story behind it! said Perez, according to the Sun. Flag. In the dying laps of the race he was able to close the gap to 0.5 seconds, but was not able to make the pass as he went wide at turn 14 and fell back, finishing 2.2 seconds behind Alonso in second. Unlike most of the drivers in the field, Prez started the race on hard tyres and changed to the medium tyres on lap 29,[51] allowing him to lead the Grand Prix for five laps. Why is Sergio Perez nicknamed Checo? With the race boiling down to a final lap title shootout, Red Bull did not want to risk Perez stopping out on track. 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. Sergio was actually let go by Mclaren for refusing to stop selling his cds in the pitlane to starstruck fans. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. Responding to the question, Perez said, "In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname 'Checo'. 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. [92] Former F1 driver and Sky Sports F1 commentator, Martin Brundle, also echoed similar thoughts in his online column review the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix where Prez finished second and suggested that Prez "should be on Red Bull Racing's radar" to partner Max Verstappen in place of Alex Albon. And it didn't turn out to be as interesting as many would have expected. Why Sergio Perez is called Checo? The nickname is a shortened version of Prezs last name, a trend common to many drivers across the world. Prez finished the season with 190 points, scoring 1 win and 5 podiums. 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. 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. Prez achieved his ninth F1 podium at the Turkish Grand Prix. Due to his fresher tyres, he then passed Bottas to take 3rd place on lap 49. Post race Prez said the matter was "discussed internally" and they are going to put it "behind" themselves. 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. [4] He also earned his first Formula One pole position at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, breaking the record for the most races before a first pole position at 215. Leclercs emotional phone call to Perez after Mexican GP. 32 years of age, he is in the senior years of his career. 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 the Mexican Minister of defense, given to him by none other than Verstappen himself. Its not really that complicated or interesting. Sergio Perez was given his nickname by his fans in Mexico. Finally, he was held up by Pierre Gasly who was getting lapped, but was engaged in a battle of his own didn't quickly concede the position. Its not actually that complicated or exciting, he said. The nickname is a shortened version of Prezs last name, a trend common to many drivers across the world. Its going to be good,, However, this iconic defense by Checo cant take credit away from his attacking skills! Oh, Ill pay a lot of beers. 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! [103], At the 2021 French Grand Prix, Prez qualified in 4th place, starting behind Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas. Sergio Perez playing F1 on his home gaming setup Sergio Perez Mendoza, also known as Checo Perez, has been a firm fixture on the Formula 1 grid since 2011. Interestingly, the name Pepe is also given to Mexican people called Jose Luis, with Jose, in some cases. 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: The reasoning behind Perezs nickname is, in fact, a simple one. Checo is the nickname given to all people called Sergio in Mexico, according to the man himself. Checo is the nickname given to all people called Sergio in Mexico, according to the man himself. And it didn't turn out to be as interesting as many would have expected. Get the Checo Perez mug. 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. Two Decades Later Red Bull Disastrously Recreate 2002 Austrian GP. (Checo Perez)'s got so much rear! He said: "Its not really that complicated or interesting. The Formula One professional racing driver Sergio Perez's nickname is Checo according to his Wikipedia bio. Now for the race that gave him his famous nickname: the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP. For other people with the same name, see, record for the number of starts before a race win, British Formula 3 International Series - National, "Perez signs two-year extension to Red Bull F1 contract", "ESPN/How Sergio Perez rode his lifelong sponsorship to Formula One success", "McLaren Racing - Heritage - Sergio Prez", "Sakhir GP Facts & Stats: Sergio Perez breaks record for longest wait for first F1 win", "Motorsports Monday: Hamilton On Top In Hungary, Spa 24, NASCAR At Indy", "McLaren confirm Magnussen and Button for 2014", "Perez joins Hulkenberg at Force India for 2014 F1 season", "Sergio Perez replaces Albon at Red Bull for 2021 season", "As es el estilo de vida de Carola Martnez, esposa de Checo Prez", "Social stint: Perez father of baby son Emilio". [66] Prez stated that contract negotiations were "ongoing", in regards to a further contract extension. His best race of the season was in Russia, where he scored his first podium of 2015 and Force India's third-ever. [126], At the Japanese Grand Prix, Prez qualified fourth. 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. [39] However, Prez later told reporters that he expected to stay with Sauber until at least the end of the 2012 season. He managed to reset his RB16B before having to start the race from the pitlane.[99]. [7] Prez joined McLaren for the 2013 season, but the team did not score a single podium finish. 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. On the first lap, Prez was hit by Leclerc and went from 2nd place to 18th and last. According to him, as quoted by the Sun, Its not really that complicated or interesting. Why Is Sergio Perez Called Checo? The Chinese Grand Prix saw him start in 12th position and he struggled during the race as well as making contact with several drivers en route to 17th. Sorry, there's no story behind it! said Perez, according to the Sun. However, he finished in third place in Telmex Challenge, in addition to being Cup runner-up in Mexico. being short for Joseph. He would play racing games on the setup, which had a real-life car seat, steering wheel, and pedals for acceleration and brake. Sergio Michel "Checo" Prez Mendoza (Spanish:[sexjo pees] (listen); born 26 January 1990),[2][3] 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. All Sergios is immediately given the moniker Checo in Mexico, where I grew up. Sergio Perez, otherwise known as Checo, is a Formula One driver from Mexico. Prez's car was fixed in time for the start of the race, although he was required to start from the back. [16], Both Prez brothers are association football fans, stating that they thought about leaving car racing to play professionally. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname 'Checo'. The first app Checo looks at in the morning is the CNBC app to check on his investments in the stock market. Get the Checo Perez mug. Why is Sergio Perez called Checo? The Mexican race driver back in 2013 explained why his famous name called him. That will be interesting to see. Due to his young age and performance, he was referred to as "The Mexican Wunderkind". Sergio Prez a great admirer of Club Amrica. 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. The reasoning behind Perezs nickname is, in fact, a simple one. He won his first GP2 Asia Series race at Sakhir, winning from lights-to-flag in the sprint race having started from pole position. This performance also earned him a seat at Red Bull in late 2021, putting a lot of pressure on him. Sorry, there's no story behind it! said Perez, according to the Sun. 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. Whats the name were talking about? He dropped to 7th in the championship after finishing 9th in Britain, behind his teammate and Verstappen finished 4th. 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. Sergio Perez was given his nickname by his fans in Mexico. Why Sergio Perez is called 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. By Mauricio Saenz 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 reasoning behind Perezs nickname is, in fact, a simple one. Prez finished twelfth in the standings, with a best result of second coming at Valencia. [23] He won five races, and finished second in the standings behind Pastor Maldonado. The Formula 1 World Championship It is the main international motorsport competition, the most popular and also the most prestigious. and Racing Point. All Sergios is immediately given the moniker Checo in Mexico, where I grew up. Soon something serious will happen so he has to calm down. The 2015 season started with a 10th place for Prez in Australia, followed by a 13th in Malaysia, an 11th in China and an eighth in Bahrain. Christian Horner Once Hailed Golden Boy as a Dream to Manage. Sergio was actually let go by Mclaren for refusing to stop selling his cds in the pitlane to starstruck fans. He added a second win at Losail, during the sprint race of the night meeting in Qatar. 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. 1; 2; The 2019 season saw Racing Point Force India become Racing Point, retaining Prez as a driver. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. He overtook Leclerc at the start and led every lap. Throughout most of the race, Prez successfully prevented Leclerc from re-overtaking him. Get the Checo Perez mug. He was born as the youngest child of Antonio Prez Garibay and Maril Mendoza de Prez in Guadalajara, Jalisco. 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. Reigniting F1's coverage on this site, Tanish has fallen in love with the sport all over again. referencing the incident above. At the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Prez qualified in 7th place, starting in 6th place due to a grid penalty for Lando Norris. by honestmaxverstappenfan November 29, 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. Force India signed Prez for the 2014 season with a 15million contract. His tyres degraded quickly and both Ferrari cars and his teammate were right behind him, but unable to overtake. And it didn't turn out to be as interesting as many would have expected. Having stayed in this position for most of the race, Prez moved into the lead following a tyre failure for teammate Max Verstappen on lap 47. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. Despite having to start from seventh on the grid he made his way up to fourth before passing Kimi Rikknen on the last lap of the race for third, making it his second podium in three races.[71][72]. Why is Sergio Perez called Checo? [21] In his first year of competition he achieved four victories in the junior category and claimed the runner-up spot in the category. He won with a 7.5 second advantage to Leclerc. 1; 2; After a red flag, Prez restarted the race on medium tyres. : $12 million salaried Red Bull star reveals how he got his nickname, FIA propose Wind Tunnel time punishment to Red Bull for $1.8 Million Budget cap breach, Christian Horner in Abu Dhabi told Yuki Tsunoda, Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly what Checo means in Mexico, 33-year-old Daniel Ricciardo feels age wont hurt hopes of returning to F1 in 2024. 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. 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. [97], At the 2021 Bahrain Grand Prix, Prez made his debut with the Red Bull Racing team finishing in 5th place. -Lewis Hamilton. -Lewis Hamilton. Someone who is called Sergio in Mexico its like for Jose is PePe or Jesus = Chuy, Alejandro= Alex. He was born as the youngest child of Antonio Prez Garibay and Maril Mendoza de Prez in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Checo is the nickname given to all people called Sergio in Mexico, according to the man himself. Sergio Perez playing F1 on his home gaming setup Driving for a team sponsored by Mexican telecommunications company Telmex, he finished eleventh in the championship. 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. Sergio Prez a great admirer of Club Amrica. 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. According to him, as quoted by the Sun, Its not really that complicated or interesting. It was the first time in his career that he scored podiums on consecutive weekends.[104]. [22] He competed in the National Class for older chassis with the T-Sport team, winning the championship by a comfortable margin. Why is Sergio Perez nicknamed Checo? After a fifteenth place in Hungary, he retired in Belgium with suspension failure. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. [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]. He was temporarily replaced by Nico Hlkenberg. Sergio Perez reveals why he is named Checo It's not really that complicated or interesting. 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. And all of that revived his nickname, making him popular amongst, However, despite the admiration from fans, many are unaware of the origin of this nickname. 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. Horner said, Hiring Checo is a bit of a risk. With six wins in 2002, Prez finished as the national runner-up in the Shifter 125cc category, and participated in the global race Shifter 80cc, in Las Vegas, where he qualified fifth and finished in 11th place. 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. The podium was Hamilton, Prez and Sebastian Vettel. A strong start to the season, including a 6th-place finish in Azerbaijan,[78] was followed by a string of eight races without points, the longest such string of his career. Sorry, there's no story behind it! said Perez, according to the Sun. However, this iconic defense by Checo cant take credit away from his attacking skills! [29] He was seen holding his hands around his head in an attempt to protect it just before the final impact. Perez made his Formula One debut in 2011 with Sauber and has since driven for teams like McLaren, Force India, and Racing Point. 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. Prez raced for Red Bull Racing in 2021, replacing Alex Albon - who was demoted to the role of reserve and test driver [96] - and partnering Max Verstappen. 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. 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. He recovered to 3rd in the sprint race. Bad as in awesome. The first one is when, in 2013, Perez himself shed light on why he is called Checo. A Sauber team spokesman said that he was conscious and able to talk after the accident, and had been taken to the circuit's medical centre. During the race, Prez switched to a two stop pitstop strategy, pitting opposite of Leclerc. However, despite the admiration from fans, many are unaware of the origin of this nickname. But the thing that happened most notably at Red Bull was the recognition of his talents and skills, which came into the spotlight. Responding to the question, Perez said, "In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname 'Checo'. 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. He then achieved his eighth career podium finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing 3rd after an incident-strewn race. [50], Prez took his third podium at the Italian Grand Prix. 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. Bad as in awesome. Sorry, theres no story behind it!. being short for Joseph. With the race boiling down to a final lap title shootout, Red Bull did not want to risk Perez stopping out on track. He made his pitstop on lap 21 for hard tyres. In the race, Carlos Sainz Jr. retired after a crash, meaning Prez ran third for most of the race. Sergio Prez a great admirer of Club Amrica. 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. The Mexican racer has an elder sister Paola and his elder brother Antonio, who is a retired stock car racing driver. As a result, Prez and his car's outstanding tyre management got him well into the points, and ultimately, to a podium finish. The reason given by the Red Bull superstar is not as interesting as it was thought. Eventually Prez finished 1.4 seconds behind Leclerc in third place which meant he ended up third in the 2022 Drivers Standings.[130]. 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. Prez took seven points finishes from nine races in the second half of the season. Sergio was actually let go by Mclaren for refusing to stop selling his cds in the pitlane to starstruck fans. 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 took a career-best seventh at the British Grand Prix and eleventh in Germany. [121][122], At the Belgian Grand Prix, Prez qualified third but was promoted to second due to his teammate's grid penalties. 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. Sergio Perez responded to the topic of why he is known as Checo in 2013. Sergio Perez has long been called Checo on the paddock, but still, many fans dont know why he is nicknamed that; The Mexican answers. being short for Joseph. Sorry, theres no story behind it!" In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. said Perez. 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: 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. Sergio Perez reveals why he is named Checo The Mexican race driver back in 2013 explained why his famous name called him. In Japan he took eighth place, before a sixteenth-place finish in Korea, tenth in India, and an eleventh-place finish in Abu Dhabi. By Mauricio Saenz 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. 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. 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]. Leclercs emotional phone call to Perez after Mexican GP. until he was successfully sued by the singer 17 times, when he cleverly changed a letter and outwitted his former inspiration. This was caused by a group of creditors (including Prez) taking legal action against the team. Prez switched to the British Formula 3 Championship for 2007. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are Prez had signed a contract extension with Racing Point, for whom he was meant to continue racing until the end of 2022. The penalty also meant his teammate Max Verstappen won the championship. Prix, and he has been a fan of the sport and Red Bull ever since. 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. -Lewis Hamilton. [119], Prez qualified 2nd for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, 2 tenths behind Charles Leclerc due to power loss and lack of a tow. Leclerc was awarded a 5 second time penalty, which elevated Prez to second in the race, giving Red Bull their fifth 1-2 result of the season. [105] Ultimately, however, the race was red-flagged after just two laps under the safety car, resulting in a result of 20th place, although he was later promoted to 19th due to a penalty given to Lance Stroll. 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. The session was suspended, and marshals and medical personnel extricated Prez from his car. 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. The ambiance between you guys has been fantastic he says you owe him a beer for Abu Dhabi. [124], Prez qualified second for the Singapore Grand Prix behind Charles Leclerc. Jon Wilde 09 Nov 2021 11:20 PM. Nevertheless, Perez is among the most adored drivers on the grid. [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. 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.