At his home race in Mexico, Sergio Pérez basks in the adulation of his fans. He drew attention for making it to the podium, marking his fifth podium finish of the 2021 season and the first for a Mexican driver in Mexico. His popularity extends beyond the track, as his face graces billboards all over the city. However, his recent underperformance and slump to eighth place in the world championships have caused his followers to worry about his future in the sport. Despite this, Pérez remains hopeful that a successful result could bolster his confidence and the outlook for his season.
Pérez’s struggle with his Red Bull car led to a string of disappointing finishes after the Chinese Grand Prix in April. Although his teammate, Max Verstappen, also experienced a dip towards the end of the European season, Pérez’s issues surfaced much earlier. The impact on his performance stirred speculations about his future, despite being under contract for the next two seasons. The whispers grew louder as the team’s early lead waned and was eventually surpassed by McLaren in the constructors’ championship.
Ahead of the race in Mexico, Pérez dispelled rumors about his retirement from Formula 1. Referencing a scene in the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street,” where the lead character adamantly refuses to leave his company, Pérez reassured his fans that he had no plans of quitting. He expressed distress over unfounded rumors disrupting his fanbase, especially those looking forward to the Grand Prix. Acknowledging his underperformance, Pérez explained that his contract renewal intended to provide him with stability and reassurance of the team’s support, which unfortunately did not yield the expected results.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner echoed Pérez’s self-evaluation of his performance as “terrible.” Despite a strong start to the year, the Mexican driver struggled since the race in Imola and has not managed to finish within the top five since his contract renewal before the Canadian Grand Prix. Horner expressed hope that they could help Pérez regain confidence and deliver the robust performances they know he is capable of.
The team remains supportive of Pérez, and his future in it remains secure. Despite the looming possibility of rising star Liam Lawson replacing Pérez, Horner reiterated that Pérez is under contract for the next season and that any other staffing considerations would be made in the future, taking into account all available options.
The Mexican Grand Prix holds special significance for Pérez. Despite the stressful demands of a home race, he aims to savor every aspect of it. Brushing off speculation about his future, Pérez focuses on his performance and looks forward to silencing critics by ending his podium drought. Earlier in 2021, he savored a precious moment when his son joined him on the podium, a memory he wishes to recreate. A podium finish would not only boost his confidence but also quell questions about his future in the sport. The crowd’s support, he hopes, can fuel his performance on race day.
