Checo Pérez’s six F1 teams

After months of speculation, it’s official: Sergio Pérez is making his highly anticipated return to Formula 1, teaming up with Valtteri Bottas to lead the all-new Cadillac F1 Team into its debut season in 2026. The announcement, confirmed Tuesday afternoon, marks a fresh start for both drivers—and a bold move for Cadillac, which enters the grid from the back but with veteran firepower and serious ambition.

Checo’s journey comes full circle

For Pérez, this marks his sixth team in Formula 1, a career that began back in 2011 when he replaced Nick Heidfeld at Sauber. He spent two seasons there, quickly earning a reputation for consistency and racecraft. His early promise even caught the eye of Ferrari, though the Italian team never pulled the trigger on a deal.

Instead, McLaren swooped in, signing Pérez before the end of the 2012 season. His stint with the British team lasted just one year, but it added another chapter to a career defined by resilience and adaptability.

In 2014, Checo joined Force India, the team where he would spend the longest stretch of his Formula 1 career. Paired with German driver Nico Hülkenberg, Pérez quickly became a reliable force on the grid. Over four seasons, he delivered consistent performances and earned the team’s final podium finish—a third place at the 2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix—before Force India was rebranded as Racing Point.

Racing Point (2019–2020): a career-defining win

Checo continued with Racing Point through 2020, and it was here that he achieved a milestone moment: his first Formula 1 victory at the Sakhir Grand Prix. After dropping to last place on the opening lap, Pérez stormed back to win—a dramatic triumph that solidified his reputation as one of the sport’s most resilient drivers.

Red Bull Racing (2021–2024): the golden era

In December 2020, Red Bull Racing announced Pérez as Max Verstappen’s new teammate. The move ushered in the most successful chapter of Checo’s career. Over four seasons, he played a pivotal role in Red Bull’s dominance, helping secure back-to-back Constructors’ Championships in 2022 and 2023. His standout year came in 2023, when he finished second overall in the Drivers’ Championship—his best result to date.

Though his performance dipped in 2024, ending the season eighth in the standings, Checo’s legacy at Red Bull remains strong. He’s widely recognized as one of the most effective support drivers in recent F1 history, known for his strategic racecraft and fierce defense on track.

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