F1 | Arrogant and winning: Perez is the true rock star of the Circus

Anti-star par excellence, shy and certainly not very nice in front of the cameras, Sergio “Checo” Perez he is the real rock star of the Circus, the "I do not care" at 300 hours per hour, the courage to do one's own thing, cheerfully not giving a damn about everything and everyone, going one's own way at the cost of hurting oneself terribly, of risking getting burned, quitting, quitting and then finding oneself with one's ass in one of the most coveted, aka Red Bull.

Sergio made his debut at a very young age, at 21, with Sauber, as a young talent from the Ferrari school and with an "announced" future in the Cavallino. Very heavy footed, after a few races he tries to kill himself at the exit of the Monte Carlo tunnel, so much so that, due to the after-effects of the accident in the Principality, an already elderly Pedro De La Rosa runs in Canada in his place.

In 2012 Checo exploded, bringing Sauber to the podium three times, then demonstrating what would be his greatest quality: impeccable management of the tyres, the ability to make them last much longer than his colleagues, combining a "Latin" driving style at times spectacular with a clean lines and a sensitivity that is certainly rare, if not unique.

This Perez is interesting, but he annoys Ferrari and Alonso a little too much, at the time fighting for the world championship against Vettel's Red Bull. In Monza, in front of what could have become his audience, Sergio goes straight ahead, in his own way, finishing second in front of the Asturian's Red. In a world championship that was played point for point everyone wondered - in a low voice, because it was a politically incorrect idea - why the young Mexican from the then embryonic Ferrari Driver Academy had not given way to the parent company Ferrari.

The answer was clear from the beginning: Perez always didn't care. Checo is the prototype of the bad and selfish (in a good way) runner, who thinks of doing good for himself and the team he races for. He is not someone who lifts his foot, he is not someone who gives discounts to his teammate, nor who gives in to political games. A bad temper; even quarrelsome and polemical, they say. And there has always been talk (more or less validly) of a veto that Alonso himself placed on the Mexican. Either me or him.

And Montezemolo, with his back against the wall, could only hand over the promising South American's contract to Martin Whitmarsh's McLaren. Perez, at 23 years old, had the opportunity to drive for a top team. And he was able to waste it. The Mexican immediately clashed with the home champion, Jenson Button, seeking a fight several times and causing trouble. A driver who is as good at managing the tires as he is unmanageable in character.

It was Force India who recovered it and the story is well known. Over the years, Perez has linked himself to the Silverstone team, becoming a true flagship, climbing on the podium several times (7) and winning his only GP in his career just when he was saying goodbye with the team with multiple names. Intense years, spent achieving results while he had to deal with always uncomfortable companions.

For example, while the world celebrated the Teutonic star Nico Hulkenberg, winning at Le Mans, he, taciturn and grumpy, beat him on the track. Hulk gets the covers and applause, Checo does the dirty work, quietly. Then it was the turn of Mercedes driver Esteban Ocon. A kind of clone of him in “A” minor. An unpleasant and aggressive Frenchman, with whom Perez literally fought for two years, always emerging victorious. Perez is one of those boxers who is good at cashing in, then landing the winning hook at the end of the round, and leaving the ring battered but happy. He sweat and toil, and could he ever be scared of Lance Stroll, the boss's son?

No, it's no coincidence that he was the one who brought Racing Point to the top step of the podium. Before saying goodbye and without a seat for 2021. Last year, as a torpedo, he started giving driving lessons, just to please. The boy capable of getting kicked out of Ferrari and McLaren due to his bad temper, someone who doesn't listen to anyone and who, if he can, argues with anyone who gets in his way. And he doesn't care, because he's so strong that he doesn't need to smile or pretend to be nice. Checo doesn't need to "sell" its image. He already has a nation (Perez fever in Mexico is known) at his feet thanks to his way of running, inflaming the audience like rock stars do at concerts.

Genuine, direct, complex, winning, arrogant and brawler. He is not a character, but only because he doesn't want to be, but books could be written about this frowning and silent Mexican who decided to take over the roof of the world without ever giving in. What did they say in that great movie with Tom Hanks? “Stoiki mugik”. Fitting.

Antonino Rendina

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