“He is cursed with the need to be second best”: Why the Mexican GP is vital for Checo Pérez | ANALYSIS

In the words of the National Anthem of Mexico, “Mexicans, to the war cry, the steel ready and the bridle; and the earth trembles in its centers at the sonorous roar of the cannon,” we find inspiration and pride. This weekend, Sergio Perez, who arrives under scrutiny, faces two monumental challenges: consolidating himself in an increasingly tight competition for runners-up and becoming the first Mexican to celebrate at the top of the podium at home. The pressure falls on the shoulders of Checo, who on more than one occasion recently has made it clear that wearing the Red Bull helmet is emotional armor that can collapse under intense media attention and relentless criticism.

Driving the best car on the grid (although Verstappen had no qualms about criticizing the engineers in the recent Austin Grand Prix on the radio), with the colors of the two-time champion team and its competitors recognizing the obvious superiority. After the angry claims of 2022, where he accused that the team did not support his interest in securing runner-up status, today at Red Bull no other priority is heard other than Checo securing second place in the championship. Christian Horner, the head of the Austrian team, has not hesitated to point out: “We know what Checo is capable of and he is not at his best. With a vehicle like ours, he’s probably putting a lot of pressure on himself. We desperately need him to regain his best form to maintain second place in the championship. You can see the pilots of Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari very even between them. We had that at the beginning of the year too, but as the season has progressed, it has faded. “We need Checo to get back to his best”.

Nobody is a prophet in their homeland, but Checo can be this Sunday as the best Mexican in the history of Formula 1. Only six Mexican drivers have competed in F1, and Pérez is undoubtedly the most outstanding. He has competed in 257 races, been on the podium 33 times and achieved six victories, figures that far exceed the legacy of the Rodríguez brothers, Ricardo and Pedro, whose name is given to the racetrack that will host the race this weekend. These two drivers did not race more than sixty races and only achieved two victories in total. . Sergio Pérez is the greatest and the great local hope to hear the Mexican national anthem as a result of a victory rather than a mere protocol in the history of the speedway.

In theory, it should win, but the trend indicates otherwise. Before the break, Checo used to qualify poorly but he had good races on Sundays. Not even that now, as he has struggled for consistency over the weekend. Although he has an exceptional car and undeniable talent, at this moment he has not achieved consistency. As if this were not enough, Verstappen has stated, amidst the boos in Austin, that he is even more motivated to win in Mexico. “Am I affected by the boos from the public? No, because in the end I’m the one who takes home a trophy. So it’s fine with me. I’ll be the one to take home that trophy, so it’s completely fine.”Max declared, making it clear that he has no intention of showing mercy towards his teammate and that the relationship between them is more strained than ever. All this happens amid growing rumors that the team, despite the fact that Pérez has a contract until 2024, is looking for another driver for next year.

This could be, perhaps, the last race of Czech Perez in his country with Red Bull. Rarely will a Mexican driver have the opportunity to defend the local asphalt with a car as lethal as the one this weekend. Beyond the season and the fight for the runners-up spot, Pérez must find his best level, whether out of pride or the historic opportunity he has before him. It depends on him, and only on him, that his victory honors the anthem and makes “the earth tremble in its centers to the sonorous roar of the cannon.” Never before has a Mexican been so close to immortality.