Czech Perez He has been driving for 11 years at the highest level of the Formula 1but it is only now that he sees the best of his career alongside the Red Bull team, with which he has already won his first runner-up Builders World Cup and the best score in its history in a Drivers’ World Championship, all in its debut season with said team in 2021.
Now 32 years old, the man from Jalisco seems calm and confident when talking about what he wants in Formula 1: “I’m very motivated, I haven’t had the opportunity to be in a team like this in my career, but I’m only 32, so I think my best years are coming and as long as I’m motivated I’ll continue. I can continue working to be world champion every year”, he told ESPN after the presentation of the Red Bull car for the 2022 season.
Asked about how many more years he could remain in the high demand of Formula 1, Pérez rejected that it will be another decade, as he has lived until now between the Sauber, McLaren, Force India, Racing Point and Red Bull teams, however, he pointed out that he Visualize for at least another five years.
“I definitely don’t see myself being around that long (another 10 years), but I’m very motivated to continue, I think when your motivation drops it’s time to go home, because there are also a lot of great things out there, without F1, but I hope to have at least five more years in the circuit”.
The new Red Bull car is called the RB18 and was designed by the team of Adrian Newey, technical director of the Austrian team and who has also served as a racing, aerodynamics and designer engineer. Among the most visible physical changes compared to the RB17, used in the 2021 season, is a longer nose without its two aerodynamic inlets, as well as covered (and larger) tires and the adapted rear wing.
Although the colors remain as they have been since 2016, with dark blue predominating and bright yellow and red alluding to the Red Bull brand, there was a change in the rear spoiler, where the name of Oracle, the new sponsor, will now be placed. main of the team. As a detail during the presentation of the car, messages from social network users were shown in support of Checo Pérez, such as “Long live Mexico, bastards” and “Checo, world champion 2022”.
With the new model revealed, the Mexican driver spoke of the challenge that next season will mean: “In Formula 1 it is difficult to set a goal for yourself, especially when there are rule changes, we don’t know how competitive Red Bull will be at the start of this new season. was, but I am confident that I am going to maximize the package I have, because if I have a car to win the championship I am going to do it and if I have one to score points I will also do it, for my part, I will make the most of the opportunities ”.
Perez will enter the 2022 championship as one of the four longest-serving drivers on the circuit, but being on a team that is actually competing for titles has boosted his confidence to go all the way.
“Definitely, being world champion is why I am here and I have prepared a lot to be; I hope to have a good car to be able to fight for it. It’s no secret that I have the fastest teammate on the grid (Max Verstappen), but I’m working on it, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in myself and if I didn’t work for it. I’m only here because I’m working to be a champion and I’m going to do everything possible to achieve it”, he expressed confidently.
Confidence is not only in himself, but in his team, since during the presentation of the car he was also applauded by Christian Horner, Red Bull boss, who pointed out: “Sergio is going to be stronger and will take a step forward in 2022 ”.
The Mexican driver says he is at his best physically and mentally, and although he is in his second year with a heavyweight team like Red Bull, he acknowledges that he is still adapting to the pressure issue.
“I feel that I am very strong in that sense, but it requires a lot of resilience. The car is complicated and it is difficult to get to know it, but at the same time that car is winning races and the championship, so it is an extra pressure when you are changing teams and trying to somehow adapt to a team that is fighting for victories. all time”.
The Formula 1 pre-season will start on February 23 with test races at the Catalunya circuit, while the first Grand Prix will be on March 20 in Bahrain. The current champion is Max Verstappen, Checo Pérez’s teammate at Red Bull.