On a Friday marked by the introduction of rookies in F1, albeit for an hour or two, Red Bull adopted a heavily different strategy. Despite 5 teams bringing in young drivers, the Austrian Outfit stuck with the usuals, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. Could it possibly have to do with the overwhelming support for the home hero at the Mexican Grand Prix? Possible. The love for the RB driver is so intense that the chants of “Checo Checo” reached the top steps of the Austin Grand Prix. Many Checo fans even resorted to booing his teammate, the defending world champion. While many condemned the disrespectful behavior, some defended alluding to Helmut Marko’s regrettable comments on Perez’s ethnicity. However, Checo’s father now comes to light showing appreciation for the Austrian talent Scout.

It wouldn’t be far from the truth that Sergio Perez was staring down the barrel of a gun at Racing Point. As the outfit donned new colors for the 2021 season, Perez was left without a seat in Formula 1. On the other side of the paddock, Red Bull was unhappy with every teammate of Max Verstappen. With Daniel Ricciardo leaving and Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon performing with ridiculous inconsistencies, the Austrian outfit was left looking for a suitable teammate. A constructor looking for a teammate and a Grand Prix winner without a seat. As if the stars had aligned, Sergio Perez was signed at Red Bull for the 2021 season. 

No bad blood between Sergio Perez and Marko at Mexican GP

However, as Max Verstappen started to obliterate the grid every weekend, the cracks in the Sakhir Grand Prix winner started to show. Winning just two races this season, Perez hardly qualified for Q3 on many Sundays. This dip prompted Helmut Marko to make some questionable comments about the Mexican driver. Although the Austrian apologized, he still faces backlash and fan fury. However, Antonio Perez, Checo’s father, despite the controversial nature of Marko, has nothing but appreciation for the RB advisor.

Amid rising tensions and changes in power dynamics, Red Bull has been going through a systematic switch. However, ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, Perez’s father has extinguished all flames of tension. Especially between his son and Marko. He said, “Dr. Marko is the best, the best, the best promoter Checo could have in the whole world. He’s incredible.” 

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Marko is known to push drivers to their limits mentally. He says, “Talent? That’s not enough. They need to be desperate.” And Perez has looked more desperate than ever post-summer break. However, his father supports Marko’s bid to extract the best talent. Elaborating, he mused, “He’s a winner mentally, and he pushes Checo. I love that, and I love Dr Marko.”  

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Up until now, the pressure came from the Constructor. However, now, at the Mexican Grand Prix, Sergio Perez has 100,000 expectations to live up to.

Perez’s home race is a bid to save his seat at Red Bull

Nigel Manson once mused that the home crowd gives a driver half a second. And in Formula pole positions are snatched with thousandths of a second. Amid the loud chanting, therefore, Perez is expected to display his peak form- in a bid to redeem himself at Red Bull and to prove himself worthy of the love of Mexico.

The practice sessions of the Mexican Grand Prix have boosted the RB driver’s confidence. However, with the fastest car on the grid, P3 and P5 are not sufficient. Perez has won six Grand Prix in his career. Therefore, anything short of P1 or P2 in front of the home crowd begs the question of whether the driver deserves the seat in the future. This is the one and only chance Perez has to rise from the ashes of humiliating races.

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The track is chanting one name, “Checo, Checo.” With this amount of love pouring in, is it possible for the home hero to replace Verstappen from the top step?