Sergio Perez seeks turnaround at home race

Formula 1 driver Sergio "Checo" Perez has acknowledged his challenging year with Red Bull, addressing his performance struggles during the 2024 season. Currently eighth in the drivers' championship with 150 points, Perez trails significantly behind his teammate Max Verstappen, who leads with 354 points.

Despite a promising start to the season with four podium finishes in the first five races - including second places in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Japan, and third in China - Perez has since experienced a 14-race podium drought. This marks his first winless season since joining Red Bull in 2021.

The Mexican driver's difficulties have impacted Red Bull's position in the constructors' championship, where they now trail McLaren by 40 points. Perez's season has been further complicated by three crashes, contributing to Red Bull's loss of the constructors' championship lead.

Looking ahead to his home race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Perez hopes to replicate his successful performances from 2021 and 2022, where he achieved podium finishes. His 2021 podium was particularly significant as he became the first Mexican driver to achieve this feat at his home grand prix, celebrating the moment with his son on the podium.

Perez remains optimistic about improvement, citing a technical breakthrough discovered after Monza that has the team moving in the right direction. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus on controllable factors, acknowledging that Formula 1 success often depends on momentum and recent performance.

The six-time grand prix winner since his 2011 debut aims to overcome last year's disappointment, where his race ended early after a collision with Charles Leclerc on the opening lap.