[35] In the second round at Malaysia, he went on to battle with Fernando Alonso for the win. Sergio was actually let go by Mclaren for refusing to stop selling his cds in the pitlane to starstruck fans. 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. being short for Joseph. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are Its not really that complicated or interesting. As a result, Prez and his car's outstanding tyre management got him well into the points, and ultimately, to a podium finish. 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. [53] He also replaced Hamilton in McLaren's cartoon Tooned. In response, all three drivers burst out laughing. The first one is when, in 2013, Perez himself shed light on why he is called Checo. [124], Prez qualified second for the Singapore Grand Prix behind Charles Leclerc. . Sergio Perez revealed in 2013 the reason behind his nickname. The first one is when, in 2013, Perez himself shed light on why he is called Checo. The nickname is a shortened version of Prezs last name, a trend common to many drivers across the world. [100] It was his first time starting on the front row in his career. 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 Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. Why is Sergio Perez nicknamed Checo? until he was successfully sued by the singer 17 times, when he cleverly changed a letter and outwitted his former inspiration. [101][102] In the race he made a strong start, moving up to 3rd place by lap 8. 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. At the United States Grand Prix, Perez had one of his most competitive weekends of the season, out-qualifying the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas and starting 3rd behind teammate Verstappen and the other Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, before finishing in the same position, albeit over 42 seconds behind eventual winner Verstappen, due to a drinks failure on the first lap. 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. I've had some tough fights in F1 but not quite as dirty as that. Perez made his Formula One debut in 2011 with Sauber and has since driven for teams like McLaren, Force India, and Racing Point. The reasoning behind Perezs nickname is, in fact, a simple one. being short for Joseph. 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. [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. The following year saw him become the youngest driver to compete in the 125cc Shifter Regional category. The first one is when, in 2013, Perez himself shed light on why he is called Checo. Why is Sergio Perez called Checo? 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. But six years on, youll be amazed by the things you still dont know about Force Indias Mexican driver. That will be interesting to see. Its not really that complicated or interesting. 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. 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. He later stated that he thought his penalty was "fair". And it didn't turn out to be as interesting as many would have expected. [16], Both Prez brothers are association football fans, stating that they thought about leaving car racing to play professionally. [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. Tanish Chachra is the Motorsport editor at The SportsRush. Sergio Perez was given his nickname by his fans in Mexico. Not bad as in terrible. Sorry, theres no story behind it! he concluded. Its not really that complicated or interesting. The Mexican race driver back in 2013 explained why his famous name called him. At the Australian Grand Prix, Prez qualified third. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. said Perez. Sergio Prez a great admirer of Club Amrica. He also collided with Sergey Sirotkin, an action that resulted in a drive-through penalty. Responding to the question, Perez said, "In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname 'Checo'. (Video) Mexican Spanish: DEJA CHECO (Mexican Spanish) How much do I really enjoy looking at the stock market and I even own some stocks too. 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. Sergio Perez reveals why he is named Checo The Mexican race driver back in 2013 explained why his famous name called him. Prez stayed at Red Bull for the 2022 season. 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. Oh, Ill pay a lot of beers. 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. Grosjean crashed his car into Lewis Hamilton creating a domino effect which involved five cars. He loves Kimi Raikkonen and sees a future world champion in Oscar Piastri. At the Spanish Grand Prix, Prez qualified 5th, citing not driving the car in FP1, where he was replaced by Jri Vips. ago The Mexican racer has an elder sister Paola and his elder brother Antonio, who is a retired stock car racing driver. 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. 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. 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. 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. In the race, he conserved his tyres up to lap 24. He lost time fighting Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, as he went wide at the chicane while attempting an overtake. Checo is the nickname given to all people called Sergio in Mexico, according to the man himself. The Formula 1 World Championship It is the main international motorsport competition, the most popular and also the most prestigious. [17] The brothers are friends of Mexican footballer Javier Hernndez. 1; 2; [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. [119], Prez qualified 2nd for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, 2 tenths behind Charles Leclerc due to power loss and lack of a tow. Prez finished the season with 125 points, scoring one win and one podium. Sergio Perez revealed in 2013 the reason behind his nickname. Prez scored his fourth win at the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix. [129], At the final round in Abu Dhabi, Prez and Leclerc were tied on 280 points for second place. 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. 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. Why Sergio Perez is called Checo? Its not really that complicated or interesting. [77] He later suffered a brake failure and retired from his home race in Mexico. In a post-season video, it was Max who quipped about Checo, Hes the minister of defense now, referencing the incident above. 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. But six years on, youll be amazed by the things you still dont know about Force Indias Mexican driver. The origins of the nickname Checo Sergio Perez In an interview in 2013, Perez was asked how he got his nickname. [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. [108] Prez retired from the race a few laps from the end because of suspected engine problems. "[116], At the Monaco Grand Prix, Prez qualified third, crashing at the Portier corner on his final attempt. He then achieved his eighth career podium finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing 3rd after an incident-strewn race. The reason given by the Red Bull superstar is not as interesting as it was thought. The following year, he returned to compete in the junior category; he achieved eight wins and became the youngest driver to become champion of the category. Leclercs emotional phone call to Perez after Mexican GP. Though, long ago, Perez revealed why that name called him, which he first received in his country- Mexico. The first one is when, in 2013, Perez himself shed light on why he is called Checo. The 2019 season saw Racing Point Force India become Racing Point, retaining Prez as a driver. 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. Reigniting F1's coverage on this site, Tanish has fallen in love with the sport all over again. Sergio Prez a great admirer of Club Amrica. Why is Sergio Perez called Checo? 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. 3. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. This performance was crucial in helping Racing Point secure third place in the constructors championship, the best result in the teams history. He was the third-youngest driver to take part in the series. (Checo Perez)'s got so much rear! Discover more news. However, he faced criticism after a poor performance in Singapore. In the closing stages of the race, he was able to pressure Lewis Hamilton for 2nd place, but he was unable to pass Hamilton before the chequered flag. Prix, and he has been a fan of the sport and Red Bull ever since. Why is Sergio Perez called Checo? Prez finished seventh in his first race, the Australian Grand Prix, impressing observers by stopping to change tyres only once, becoming the only driver in the field to make fewer than two stops. But for the future, Perez eyes the title. However, despite the admiration from fans, many are unaware of the origin of this nickname. The Formula One professional racing driver Sergio Perez's nickname is Checo according to his Wikipedia bio. He He finished 2nd to Verstappen, with Leclerc having retired. Of course, Im aggressive in the race, but I never just throw the door without pardon.. Sergio Perez reveals why he is named Checo It's not really that complicated or interesting. Throughout most of the race, Prez successfully prevented Leclerc from re-overtaking him. 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. ", "Formula 1: The cause of Sergio Perez's mysterious retirement", "Verstappen dubs Perez an 'amazing human being' as he credits Mexican's heroics for title win", "Saudi Arabian GP: Sergio Perez on 'unbelievable lap'; Christian Horner praises staggering team effort", "2022 Spanish Grand Prix report and highlights: Verstappen leads Red Bull 1-2 after Leclerc retires from rollercoaster Spanish Grand Prix", "Perez says Red Bull momentum 'couldn't be any better' as he reveals plans to discuss team orders rules", "Monaco GP: Sergio Perez 'very sorry' for crash and fears damage | Carlos Sainz: I couldn't avoid him", "Sainz: Blind corner made Perez Monaco crash inevitable", "2022 Monaco Grand Prix report and highlights: Perez wins a captivating wet-dry Monaco Grand Prix as Leclerc falls from pole to P4", "2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix race report and highlights: Verstappen cruises to Azerbaijan Grand Prix win as both Leclerc and Sainz retire", "Perez enjoys 'epic' final laps at Silverstone after recovering from last to P2", "Christian Horner after Belgian GP qualifying: 'Max has been absolutely on fire', "2022 Belgian Grand Prix race report and highlights: Verstappen cruises to Belgian Grand Prix victory from P14 as Perez completes Red Bull 1-2 | Formula 1", "Perez handed 5-second post-race penalty for Safety Car infringement but holds onto Singapore Grand Prix win | Formula 1", "Perez holds off Leclerc to win rollercoaster 2022 Singapore Grand Prix as Verstappen settles for 7th", "Verstappen crowned world champion with Japanese GP victory after late penalty for Leclerc | Formula 1", "Verstappen makes F1 history as he beats Hamilton to victory in Mexico for 14th win of the season | Formula 1", "2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix report and highlights: Russell takes maiden victory as Hamilton backs up Mercedes 1-2 in Sao Paulo | Formula 1", "2022 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix report and highlights: Verstappen cruises to victory in Abu Dhabi as Leclerc seals P2 in standings over Perez | Formula 1", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sergio_Prez&oldid=1142331285, Super Karts Cup Mxico Superkart 125 (Light) JAP, Super Karts Cup Mxico Superkart 80 (Light), Super Karts Cup Mxico Superkart 125 (Light), This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 20:33. 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 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. Get the Checo Perez mug. During a conversation in Abu Dhabi, Horner explained that the nickname means Big d**k in Perezs homeland, causing all three drivers to burst out laughing. 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. claims Sebastian Vettel was his first love after seeing him at the Indian Grand This years drivers championship is over, with Verstappen sealing the title in Japan. Many observers praised his performance despite his late-race error,[36][37][38] taking Sauber's best result as an independent team. He had a breakthrough season in 2012 when he achieved two podium finishes, which was followed by another podium finish in 2013. Unable to pass the Mercedes, Prez then switched strategies and pitted for fresh tyres and chased down Bottas in the final stages. Nevertheless, Perez is among the most adored drivers on the grid. This was the first win for a Mexican driver since Pedro Rodrguez won the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix 50 years prior.[94][95]. and Racing Point. He passed Norris early but lost a position to Bottas after a slow pitstop. Interestingly, the name Pepe is also given to Mexican people called Jose Luis, with Jose, in some cases. Sergio Perez responded to the topic of why he is known as Checo in 2013. The ambiance between you guys has been fantastic he says you owe him a beer for Abu Dhabi, Oh, Ill pay a lot of beers. Sergio Perez revealed in 2013 the reason behind his nickname. 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. Prez finished the first three races of the season outside the points. 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. 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. 32 years of age, he is in the senior years of his career. Discover more news. He came fifth in Belgium and sixth in Italy. 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. But the thing that happened most notably at Red Bull was the recognition of his talents and skills, which came into the spotlight. The Formula 1 World Championship It is the main international motorsport competition, the most popular and also the most prestigious. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are 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 Perez is considered one of the best drivers on the grid and is respected by many in the sport. The origins of the nickname Checo Sergio Perez In an interview in 2013, Perez was asked how he got his nickname. 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. Sorry, theres no story behind it! 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. 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. 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: [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]. 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. Prez's car was fixed in time for the start of the race, although he was required to start from the back. After leading the championship early in the season, he eventually finished fourth in the drivers' standings. Prez experienced a difficult start to the season for the first four races due to an uncompetitive VJM09, but scored points with a ninth-place in Russia. 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. Sorry, theres no story behind it! Sergio Perez revealed in 2013 the reason behind his nickname. [69] He finished the 2015 championship in ninth, his highest championship position to date, with 78 points. Sergio Perez reveals why he is named Checo The Mexican race driver back in 2013 explained why his famous name called him. In 2019, Racing Point signed a three-year extension with Prez. [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. 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. On the first lap, Prez was hit by Leclerc and went from 2nd place to 18th and last. ago Eventually Prez finished 1.4 seconds behind Leclerc in third place which meant he ended up third in the 2022 Drivers Standings.[130]. 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. And it didn't turn out to be as interesting as many would have expected. And the majority of F1 fans like to call him by his nickname Checo in admiration. "[47], For the German Grand Prix, Prez started in 17th position but was able to make his way through the field, and ultimately finished the race in 6th place. Sergio Perez, otherwise known as Checo, is a Formula One driver from Mexico. Prez was unable to keep up with Verstappen, attributing it to tyre degradation. Includes points scored by other drivers. Prez took seven points finishes from nine races in the second half of the season.