After making his name in Mexican karting, Sergio Pérez moved to Germany at the age of 15 to begin his single-seater career. In 2007, he won the British Formula 3 Championship in the National Class. He finished runner-up in the 2010 GP2 Series (now FIA Formula 2), earning promotion to Formula One in 2011 with Sauber, where he teamed up with Kamui Kobayashi.

Pérez first caught global attention at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix. In difficult wet conditions, he relentlessly chased Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso to finish second, securing a standout podium. That season, despite driving for midfield team Sauber, he claimed three podium finishes and established his distinctive driving style.

He moved to McLaren in 2013, a difficult year that yielded limited results. A switch to Force India (later Racing Point) in 2014 marked a turning point, as Pérez consistently delivered podium finishes despite competing with a midfield team. His defining moment came at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, where—after dropping to last following a first-lap collision—he produced a remarkable comeback to claim his maiden F1 victory. It was his 190th race start and the first F1 win by a Mexican driver in 50 years.

In 2021, Pérez joined top team Red Bull Honda. He secured his first victory with the team at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he played a pivotal supporting role in Verstappen’s title battle. Pérez’s resolute defense against Lewis Hamilton became one of the most iconic scenes of the season and was instrumental in Verstappen securing his first world championship.

In 2022, Pérez achieved a long-held ambition by winning the Monaco Grand Prix. He added further victories in 2023 at the Saudi Arabian and Azerbaijan Grands Prix, finishing second in the drivers’ standings—his career-best result—and contributing to Red Bull’s first-ever one–two finish in the championship.

Although Pérez left Red Bull and lost his F1 seat at the end of 2024, his experience and proven record led to his selection as a regular driver for Cadillac, which enters Formula One as a new team from the 2026 season.