Podcast PODCAST, EPISODE 10: 5 IDEAS FROM FORMULA 1 PILOT SERGIO PEREZ

The Edge is a series of conversations with extraordinary people operating at the edge of possibility. It’s about the thin line between taking part and tipping into victory; it’s about what gives us our edge and what we can do to go beyond it. 

Our next guest is Sergio Perez, the Mexican Formula 1 pilot currently driving for Red Bull Racing, who got his start behind the wheel of a go-kart at age 6.

With your host Teo Van Den Broeke, the Style Director of British GQ, in this episode we catch up with Formula 1 pilot Sergio Perez, known to fans by his nickname “Checo”. He started racing go-karts with his older brother when he was just a young child and has since been catapulted to the world stage. In 2011, he became the first Mexican driver to start an F1 race in 30 years at the Australian Grand Prix. And this year, driving for Red Bull Racing, Sergio became the first Mexican driver to finish on the podium on his home turf in Mexico. At 31-years-old, Sergio’s got wisdom to share when it comes to learning from mistakes, setting your sights on the future, and living for adrenaline. 

Here are a few snippets to put you on the starting line and get the engines revving. Jump right in! But don’t forget to subscribe to our Podcast so you can listen to the full, unfiltered episode later. The Edge is a series of conversations with extraordinary people operating at the edge of possibility. It’s about the thin line between taking part and tipping into victory; it’s about what gives us our edge and what we can do to go beyond it.

You go through good and bad times, and I’ve always seen that you learn more from the bad times. The most important thing is not to give up and to always look ahead. There is always a new opportunity. There’s always a new day and you can do better tomorrow.

You know, everyone is looking at you and shouting your name, but you have to disconnect from everything and you have to go into your zone and don’t let any noise distract you.

I think social media has become too much in the last couple of years. Not just for a sportsman, even for normal people….I think it’s a great tool…but there has to be a limit and a balance.

I think [being a lawyer or banker ] shares the adrenaline that we live every day in our lives as pilots. I really like the life that is related to sport, you know, living and thinking how you can do better, how you can be better. That’s something I really like.

With every career to make it to the top, to get into the highest level of your sport, it takes a lot from you. But I think if my kids are willing to do it and that they’re willing to give it [their] all to be successful, to be very professional at a very young age, I’m more than happy to support them…I had all the support from my from my parents, so I’ll do the same for my kids. It doesn’t matter for me if they want to be a Formula One driver or if they want to be a lawyer, I would support them in whatever they want to do. I would push them to be the best you know, to make sure they give their best….I want to make sure they are passionate about what they want to do.