Sergio “Checo” Pérez has been making headlines recently, with some outlets claiming that he would announce his retirement from Formula 1 during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend. This event will follow the U.S. Grand Prix, marking Formula 1’s return after nearly a month-long break.
This isn’t the first time the Mexican driver has been the center of retirement rumors. Around this time last year, there were strong speculations that he might leave Red Bull, with Fernando Alonso rumored to be his replacement.
But Pérez isn’t one to let these rumors get to him. On Sunday, he hilariously brushed off the retirement chatter by posting a scene from The Wolf of Wall Street on social media. In the clip, Leonardo DiCaprio, playing legendary stockbroker Jordan Belfort, repeatedly declares, “I’m not leaving,” to his employees.
Checo’s Struggles and Comeback in 2024
The 2024 season hasn’t been a smooth ride for Pérez. He faced some tough moments behind the wheel of the Red Bull RB20, but after the summer break, he seemed to find his rhythm again. At Monza, he was close to teammate Max Verstappen, even outperforming him at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, becoming a real contender for victory.
However, just when it seemed like things were turning around, Singapore hit Pérez hard. The Guadalajara native struggled with performance issues once again, failing to make it into Q3 during qualifying. He started the race in 13th position, making it a challenging weekend.
Eyeing a Strong Comeback in the U.S. and Mexico
In the Singapore Grand Prix, Pérez could only manage to climb three spots, finishing in 10th place. Meanwhile, his teammate Verstappen secured second place, showing once again why Red Bull continues to dominate.
But Checo isn’t backing down. He’s gearing up to prove himself when Formula 1 returns from the break for the U.S. Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin from October 18th to 20th. And following that, he’ll be ready to impress in front of his home crowd at the Mexican Grand Prix in the legendary Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Will Checo silence the doubters and put on a show for his fans? One thing’s for sure: he’s not leaving just yet.