Sergio Perez was still in Texas when he described the Mexico City Grand Prix as his most crucial race weekend of the season.
Perez stated that he requires the comfort of home and a loving hug from a national fan base that cherishes him.
For a driver who is second in the standings while racing for a Red Bull team that has already won the constructor’s
championship, Perez has had a difficult year: no wins since April, constant criticism that he can’t keep up with
teammate Max Verstappen, insensitive remarks about his heritage from a team official, and speculation of a
retirement or split from the team after this season.
“I am massively looking forward to my home grand prix,” stated Perez, aka “Checo.”
The 33-year-old started the season brilliantly, winning two of the first four races. There was even speculation about a
title pursuit. Verstappen ended that by winning ten races in a row. After winning last week’s United States Grand
Prix, the Dutch driver now has 15 victories this season, tying the record.
When compared to the three-time champion in the same garage, Perez has all but disappeared. Lewis Hamilton even
threatened to overtake him for second place until the Mercedes driver was disqualified in Austin. Perez now leads
Hamilton by 39 points with four races left.
Perez has only achieved five podium finishes since May. While Perez has contributed to Red Bull’s smashing
constructor’s championship, Verstappen is so strong that he might easily lead Red Bull to first position on his own.
In September, things got progressively worse. Red Bull senior adviser Helmut Marko told a media outlet that Perez’s
“South American” origin could explain his lack of focus or consistency. Perez hails from Mexico, a North American country.
The 80-year-old Marko eventually apologized publicly and in person to Perez for the insult, and the driver appeared
to move on.
