The 10 pivotal moments that shaped Sergio Perez's Formula 1 journey

2. First podium at Malaysia 2012: the legendary duel against Fernando Alonso

Just a year after his debut, Perez shed a significant label: the "pay driver" tag. On March 25, 2012, he earned the utmost respect from his competitors by steering the Sauber C31 to lead several laps at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Sergio Perez, Sauber C31

Under extremely challenging track conditions, where heavy rain tested the grid's abilities, the Mexican engaged in an intense wheel-to-wheel contest with Fernando Alonso—then racing for Ferrari—in a direct fight for victory.

In the final laps, Perez made a minor error and ran slightly wide at the penultimate corner, losing some ground to his rival. Despite this, his second-place finish marked Mexico's first F1 podium in 41 years.

3. Podium at Monza 2012: The day Lauda acknowledged Perez

Receiving a tip of the hat from a three-time world champion like Niki Lauda carries substantial significance, and Perez was among the few drivers to earn such recognition from the Austrian legend.

On September 9, 2012, the Mexican clinched his second career podium at the Italian Grand Prix, a circuit where he had previously showcased his remarkable comebacks during his tenure in British Formula 3. In F1, he maneuvered his Sauber-Ferrari from 12th on the grid to second place. Once again demonstrating his signature tyre conservation skills, he surged against Alonso, overtaking him with seven laps to go.

The race was won by Lewis Hamilton, who was driving for McLaren at the time. On the podium, Lauda approached the young driver and said, "I take my hat off to you, you did an incredible job, you even surprised Alonso."

4. Perez's time at McLaren in 2013: a challenging learning curve

His outstanding performance at Monza was the final push needed to secure a contract with McLaren. The legendary Woking-based team was undergoing a significant overhaul after Lewis Hamilton's departure to Mercedes. Although Perez had opportunities to sign with Ferrari, that option required waiting until 2014. Faced with ambiguity from Maranello, the Mexican opted to join the British team.

However, the 2013 season did not yield the results expected by either party. Technical disagreements and heightened internal tension, along with a car that struggled to adapt to the new Pirelli tyres, hindered the Mexican, who was unable to replicate his Sauber form.

Sergio Perez, McLaren MP4-28

Perez concluded the championship in 11th place with 49 points, while his teammate Button amassed 73. For the first time in years, the Woking-based team ended a season without securing a single podium.

"Unfortunately, for various reasons, the season didn't unfold as we anticipated and we ended up without a podium," the Mexican later reflected on a chapter that many analysts prematurely labeled a missed opportunity with a top-tier team.

5. Comeback at Force India and historic podiums

The announcement of his exit from McLaren came late in 2013, leaving him with minimal options for securing a seat on the grid. Among his limited choices was Force India, a team that had finished sixth in the championship just behind McLaren and was recognized for its consistency.

The synergy between the Mexican driver, team owner Vijay Mallya, and the entire crew was immediate. On April 6, 2014, in just his third race with the team, Perez delivered the squad's first podium since 2009 by finishing third at the Bahrain Grand Prix, fending off late challenges from Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull.

This partnership yielded five podiums: Bahrain 2014, Russia 2015, Monaco 2016, Europe (Baku) 2016, and Azerbaijan 2018. Moreover, they propelled the team to consecutive historic fourth-place finishes in the constructors' championship in 2016 and 2017.

6. The legal struggle at Force India that preserved hundreds of jobs

Severe financial and legal challenges faced by Mallya in India over bank loans greatly affected Force India during the 2018 season. Amid the uncertainty, Perez initiated legal action that put the team into administration following the Hungarian Grand Prix.

This decision enabled the sale of the team to a consortium led by Canadian businessman Lawrence Stroll, who rebranded the organization as Racing Point.

"I was asked to pursue that route to save 400 jobs at the factory. That was the larger picture. It was an incredibly difficult position to be in, unable to concentrate solely on driving," the driver explained regarding the action that ultimately rescued the team from liquidation.

7. Triumph at the 2020 Sakhir GP and the call from Red Bull

Sergio Perez, Racing Point, 1st position, reflects on the podium

In Formula 1, nothing is assured, and Perez demonstrated that once more in 2020. A three-year deal signed with Lawrence Stroll to lead the transition into Aston Martin fell apart when four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel became available after departing Ferrari. The Canadian businessman chose not to honor the agreement with the Mexican, leaving him without a seat for 2021.

Despite the setback, Perez was enjoying the best season of his career. He was contending within the top five of the drivers' championship, capitalizing on a competitive car that was battling for third in the constructors' standings. Yet, his future in F1 seemed bleak.

When options appeared exhausted, a masterful performance at the Sakhir Grand Prix changed his trajectory. Red Bull was assessing Alex Albon's future, and that race provided clear insights. After dropping to last place due to a first-lap incident with Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, Perez executed a remarkable comeback.

Taking advantage of Mercedes' pitstop blunders and a late puncture for George Russell, he secured his first F1 victory and the inaugural win for Stroll's team. Observing Perez overtake Albon on the track, Christian Horner realized he had found the perfect candidate for Red Bull's second seat.

8. The 2021 Abu Dhabi GP: Honored as the "Minister of Defence"

Joining Red Bull provided the team with the ideal support they needed alongside Verstappen. The Mexican adapted swiftly, claiming victory in Azerbaijan and consistently finishing on the podium in Turkey, the United States, and Mexico during the championship finale.

His ultimate challenge came at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, where he once again showcased his tyre management expertise.

Operating on tyres that were 21 laps old, he was tasked with holding back Hamilton to allow Verstappen to close a nine-second gap. His resolute and fair defense garnered admiration from the Dutchman, who famously stated over the team radio: "Checo is a legend".

9. The 2024 season: Internal turmoil and departure from Red Bull

Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB20

Following significant achievements like the Monaco Grand Prix, the 2024 season began with optimistic aspirations of competing for both championships once more. Nevertheless, internal conflicts within Red Bull and challenges in adapting the car's configuration to his driving preferences resulted in a noticeable drop in performance.

Even though both parties had agreed to a contract extension for an additional two years through 2026, his mid-season performance clearly indicated a downturn.

The Mexican faced difficulties re-entering the top five, managing just one top-10 finish in Las Vegas during the final leg of the season. This hastened the conclusion of his contract, leading to an official announcement of his departure from the Milton Keynes team in December.

10. The surprising comeback with Cadillac F1: 300 races and looking ahead to 2027

In an unexpected turn of events, the challenging performances of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda in Red Bull's second seat towards the end of 2025 highlighted Perez's established credentials, placing him squarely on Cadillac's radar.

The new American team sought an experienced driver capable of spearheading technical development - a role the Mexican was well-versed in from his time at Sauber and Force India.

As anticipated, the debut season has been tough for the new competitor. Nonetheless, impressive drives - including a top-10 finish in Monaco that would have granted the team its first point if not for a post-race restart penalty - along with solid performances against teammate Valtteri Bottas, earned Perez the team's confidence.

Consequently, the Mexican not only marks his 300th Grand Prix milestone but also gears up for his second full season with Cadillac as he heads into the 2027 campaign.

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing