Last Wednesday, December 18, a piece of news no one wanted to hear was confirmed: Checo Pérez will not continue with Red Bull or Formula 1 in 2025. 😔🇲🇽 After a challenging season, the Mexican driver saw his contract terminated, with his seat taken by young New Zealander Liam Lawson. 🌟
Although the 152 points he accumulated in 2024 and his eighth place in the championship were not enough for the team, the real reason for his dismissal is not his performance but a factor that brought heavy costs to the team. 💸🛞
THE NUMBERS WEREN’T ON HIS SIDE 📉
The 2024 season was a challenge for Checo:
- He finished eighth in the championship, far from his runner-up position in 2023.
- He managed only 4 podiums, compared to 9 the previous year.
- His teammate, Max Verstappen, dominated with 437 points, nearly tripling Checo’s total.
However, these numbers were not what determined his exit, but rather a more pressing issue: repair costs. 🚗⚠️
THE “DESTROYERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP” 💥🔧
Red Bull, a team used to success, took a hard hit by losing the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren. In this context, Checo’s frequent accidents resulted in a monumental repair bill for the team. 😬💸
The Mexican driver topped the unfortunately infamous “Destroyers’ Championship,” with a total repair cost of $4,861,000. 😱 This placed him ahead of Alexander Albon ($4,664,750) and Franco Colapinto ($3,436,000).
NOTABLE INCIDENTS IN 2024:
🏁 Monaco: $2,102,000.
🏁 Azerbaijan: $905,000.
🏁 Hungary: $772,000.
🏁 Mexico: $320,000.
In total, Pérez incurred damages in 8 of the 24 Grands Prix, a statistic unmatched by any other driver. 😓
HOW ARE COSTS CALCULATED? 💳🛠️
The value of car parts varies significantly:
- Tires: $5,000.
- Car floor: $225,000.
- Front suspension: $125,000.
- Monocoque (the most expensive part): $675,000.
For Red Bull, each incident meant not only repair costs but also a loss of time and resources—unacceptable in such a competitive season.
FAREWELL TO A MEXICAN LEGACY IN F1 🇲🇽💔
With Checo’s departure, Mexico loses its representative in Formula 1 for the first time since 2010. The news marks the end of an era but leaves the door open for new Mexican talents in the future. 🌟🇲🇽
WHAT’S NEXT FOR CHECO?
While his future in F1 seems uncertain, Checo is known for his resilience. Will we see him in another team or a different racing category? Only time will tell. 🕰️💪
A LESSON IN HIGH COSTS
The 2024 season will be remembered not only for Checo Pérez’s sporting challenges but also for highlighting the importance of avoiding costly mistakes in a category where every detail matters. 🏎️✨
