Sergio Pérez Mendoza is a Mexican racing driver, currently driving for McLaren.
Pérez was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy until 2012. He also took his first Formula One podium at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix, a drive which won him plaudits and fuelled speculation of a move to Ferrari in the near future.
However, Pérez later told reporters that he expected to stay with Sauber until at least the end of the 2012 season. Due to his young age and performance, he has been referred to as "The Mexican Wunderkind".Pérez joined McLaren for the 2013 season, replacing Lewis Hamilton and racing alongside Jenson Button.
Pérez began his career at the age of 6 years in karting in 1996.[10] In his first year of competition he achieved four victories in the junior category at the end of the year and claimed the runner-up spot in the category.
In 1997, Pérez participated in the Youth Class (karts), where he was the youngest driver in the category and earned a win, five podiums and finished fourth in the championship.The following year, he returned to compete in the junior category, where he had eight wins; and at the end of the campaign, he became the youngest driver to become champion of the category.
On 28 September 2012, Lewis Hamilton's decision to leave McLaren for Mercedes in 2013 was announced, and Pérez was subsequently confirmed as Hamilton's replacement.
In the season-opening race in Australia, Pérez qualified 15th and finished in 11th position, later describing the weekend as "difficult" for himself and the team as a whole.
Pérez started the Malaysian Grand Prix from ninth on the grid, and finished the race in the same position, scoring his first points for McLaren. Pérez also achieved the fastest lap of the race, having pitted for fresh tyres
Source: DSX
