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. On 12 December 2013, Prez had his drive for Force India in 2014 confirmed.[10]. Sergio Perez revealed in 2013 the reason behind his nickname. Sergio Perez revealed in 2013 the reason behind his nickname. Over the last two seasons, Perez has dropped massive drives and moments after receiving the car that complemented his ability. He won with a 7.5 second advantage to Leclerc. Prez conducted the test with fellow academy member Jules Bianchi. Over the last two seasons, Perez has dropped massive drives and moments after receiving the car that complemented his ability. Horner said, Hiring Checo is a bit of a risk. Checo is the nickname given to all people called Sergio in Mexico, according to the man himself. Why is Sergio Perez nicknamed Checo? [84] Three days before the British Grand Prix, he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus which causes COVID-19. [citation needed] This drive won him plaudits and fuelled speculation of a move to Ferrari in the near future. Though, long ago, Perez revealed why that name called him, which he first received in his country- Mexico. 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. Though last year, Christian Horner in Abu Dhabi told Yuki Tsunoda, Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly what Checo means in Mexico. Sorry, theres no story behind it! said Perez, according to the Sun. The Mexican racer has an elder sister Paola and his elder brother Antonio, who is a retired stock car racing driver. At the Australian Grand Prix, Prez qualified third. Out-qualifying his teammate for a second time, Prez started in the tenth position for the Monaco Grand Prix however a first-lap collision with Jenson Button meant an early retirement for the first time in the season. Sorry, theres nothing to it! Similarly to how Jim stands for James in English, Checo stands for Sergio in Mexican Spanish. He was the third-youngest driver to take part in the series. [120], At the British Grand Prix, Prez started fourth. Its not really that complicated or interesting. Also read: 33-year-old Daniel Ricciardo feels age wont hurt hopes of returning to F1 in 2024. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico in 1990, Sergio Prez was interested in motor racing from an early age. Prez stayed at Red Bull for the 2022 season. [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. All Sergios is immediately given the moniker Checo in Mexico, where I grew up. [124], Prez qualified second for the Singapore Grand Prix behind Charles Leclerc. [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. Its not actually that complicated or exciting, he said. Nevertheless, Perez is among the most adored drivers on the grid. The reasons why Sergio "Checo" Perez is a faithful follower of Club America. 3. 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. The 2019 season saw Racing Point Force India become Racing Point, retaining Prez as a driver. He remained with the Indian team for a fourth consecutive season alongside new teammate Esteban Ocon, ending speculation of a possible move to Williams, Renault or Haas. At the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix, Prez qualified in 5th place, starting in 4th behind McLaren's Lando Norris after a penalty for Valtteri Bottas. [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. 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 was born as the youngest child of Antonio Prez Garibay and Maril Mendoza de Prez in Guadalajara, Jalisco. [29] He was seen holding his hands around his head in an attempt to protect it just before the final impact. And the majority of F1 fans like to call him by his nickname Checo in admiration. That's something you do in karting and normally you grow out of it but that's obviously not the case with Checo [Prez]. 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 best drivers in the 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. 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 jumped up to 2nd on the opening lap of the race, after beating Charles Leclerc off the line. [7] Prez joined McLaren for the 2013 season, but the team did not score a single podium finish. [117][118] The race started in wet conditions with everyone on the full wet tyres. This was the first win for a Mexican driver since Pedro Rodrguez won the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix 50 years prior.[94][95]. In the race, he conserved his tyres up to lap 24. In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. said Perez. Sorry, theres no story behind it! He had a strong start to the season and even achieved his first-ever win at the Sakhir Grand Prix. Did not finish, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance. Its going to be good, Max said in this thanks to Checo. But the thing that happened most notably at Red Bull was the recognition of his talents and skills, which came into the spotlight. Post race Prez said the matter was "discussed internally" and they are going to put it "behind" themselves. Sergio Prez a great admirer of Club Amrica. Many even believe he got a stint with a good team very late in his career despite having some impressive skills. But he has also faced many challenges and faced criticism for his inconsistency on the track. Why is Sergio Perez nicknamed Checo? [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]. Sergio Perez, otherwise known as Checo, is a Formula One driver from Mexico. The podium was Hamilton, Prez and Sebastian Vettel. 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. 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. 32 years of age, he is in the senior years of his career. He overtook Leclerc at the start and led every lap. Its not really that complicated or interesting. But six years on, youll be amazed by the things you still dont know about Force Indias Mexican driver. 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! 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 later added: "Just look at the last races. Why is Sergio Perez nicknamed Checo? In Mexico, where I come from, all Sergios are automatically given the nickname Checo. In qualifying, Prez received a tow from his teammate on his final flying lap and qualified second, ahead of Leclerc. until he was successfully sued by the singer 17 times, when he cleverly changed a letter and outwitted his former inspiration. 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. 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. The Formula 1 World Championship It is the main international motorsport competition, the most popular and also the most prestigious. Leclerc cut across the Casio Triangle, and blocked Prez from making an overtake. He Doesnt Give a F***: Despite Recent Max Verstappen Team Order Furore, [12] Prez then won the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix with the team and secured the second Formula 1 Grand Prix win of his career. Flag. The origins of the nickname Checo Sergio Perez In an interview in 2013, Perez was asked how he got his nickname. Now for the race that gave him his famous nickname: the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP. He took a career-best seventh at the British Grand Prix and eleventh in Germany. He was temporarily replaced by Nico Hlkenberg. Sergio Perez playing F1 on his home gaming setup Sergio Perez has long been called Checo on the paddock, but still, many fans dont know why he is nicknamed that; The Mexican answers. Checo is the nickname given to all people called Sergio in Mexico, according to the man himself. After a red flag, Prez restarted the race on medium tyres. Away from us, he loves to snuggle inside his books. In France, he retired from the race with an engine failure. 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. The Mexican racer has an elder sister Paola and his elder brother Antonio, who is a retired stock car racing driver. [85] After testing negative for COVID-19 after the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix, Prez returned to race at the Spanish Grand Prix, he qualified fourth and finished the race in fifth position. [19], In November 2012, Prez unveiled the Checo Prez Foundation to support orphans and children with cancer. 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.