checo interview

Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez on ‘Historic’ Las Vegas GP, Acting With Carin León, and Celebrating With Patrón

Checo just clinched second place in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship, but the 33-year-old’s off-track work with Mexican icons like Patrón and Carin León is racing onward too

By Oscar Hartzog

Oscar Hartzog

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November 21, 2023

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Checo Pérez Interview 2023 F1 Las Vegas, Carin León, & Patrón

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Sergio “Checo” Pérez is in an odd spot. The Red Bull Racing Formula 1 driver has two first-place wins and nine podium finishes this year — including a third-place finish at this past weekend’s inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix — clinching him second place in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship. In other words, Checo is having an amazing year. But there’s one thing stopping Pérez from having the best year: teammate Max Verstappen. Red Bull Racing’s other driver has already won the 2023 Drivers’ Championship with a record-breaking 10 consecutive wins this season, and 18 first-place finishes overall.

shop checo perez merch at fanatics

But 13 years in Formula 1 has made Pérez smartly optimistic and quietly competitive. “Vegas was incredible. One of my favorite races this season,” Checo tells Rolling Stone. “I am happy to not only get on the podium in Vegas last night but I am really proud to have clinched P2 in the Drivers’ Championship. It is a historic result for the team — the first one-two finish in Red Bull Racing history. This was a massive piece of history for us, and I am proud to be part of that.”

Pérez, now 33 years old, is also steering into his off-track lovability, Mexican roots, and massive, fervent fanbase (one Red Bull employee told us that being in Mexico with Checo was like being in the States with Madonna). Just before F1 Vegas, for example, Checo released a limited-edition PATRÓN Mexican Heritage Tin.

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The limited-edition tin features designs and symbols inspired by Pérez’s life, including jimadors in racing helmets, agave plants, musical instruments, and a blue F1 car. Fans of Checo (or great tequila) can order the PATRÓN tin at ReserveBar for $72, but you’ll have to act fast, as this is limited and will likely sell out soon.

$72

Buy Checo x PATRÓN tin at reservebar

“The design and each symbol on the PATRÓN Mexican Heritage tin has special meaning to me and represents the passion and pride in Mexico that brought PATRÓN and I together,” says Pérez, in a release. “I’m so excited for the tin to hit shelves, and for my fans to have something created by me that they can pick up for themselves or loved ones this holiday season.”

Besides working with PATRÓN on a heritage tin and standing on F1 podiums across the globe, Pérez has also found time to lend his persona to the Mexican music scene. The driver recently appeared as a taxi driver in Carin León’s “Por La Familia” music video — watch it on YouTube.

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“I really loved being part of this video with Carin. I love working with Mexican personalities, and seeing how they are so popular not just in Mexico but also around the world,” says Pérez. “It makes me feel proud to be Mexican. Of course, being able to work with a fellow Mexican artist and friend, plus being able to tap into a bit of the creative side of bringing a project like this together was a lot of fun.”

If you want some unique Checo merch for yourself, be sure to grab his limited-edition PATRÓN tin now on ReserveBar.

$72

Buy Checo x PATRÓN tin at reservebar

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