Sergio Perez outlines the ‘even more challenging’ thing he and Franco Colapinto endured to reach F1

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Sergio Perez has had a successful career in Formula 1 since making his debut in 2011 with Sauber and he now has six race wins.

The Mexican driver is floundering at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen after making multiple mistakes this season and has not scored a podium since April’s Chinese Grand Prix.

Perez is clinging onto his seat at the Austrian team as Liam Lawson is putting more pressure on the 34-year-old while racing for RB.

He is the only Mexican driver on the grid and Perez has performed well, taking multiple victories and competing at the front of the field.

The Red Bull driver explained to Ole that he and Williams driver Franco Colapinto suffered similar difficulties on their way to Formula 1.

Sergio Perez and Franco Colapinto both left home at a young age which is ‘even more challenging’

Reaching Formula 1 is a very challenging task as it requires a lot of talent and money to progress through the junior ranks.

It can be even more difficult for drivers from Latin America as funding can be difficult to secure and it is critical to race in Europe.

This means drivers with ambitions of competing at the highest level may need to leave home at a young age to compete in European junior categories.

Perez explained that both he and Colapinto had to decide to leave home and race in Europe, which added another layer of complication to their journey compared to some of their European competitors.

READ MORE: Carlos Slim could back ‘daring’ Formula 1 driver in 2025 if Sergio Perez drops off the grid

The Mexican said: “Franco is doing very well. I have a lot of connection with him because, at the end of the day, we went through the same thing to get to F1. He had to leave at a very young age, he left his adolescence behind, because he left completely alone.

“I’m not saying that the European driver has more merits. They all have a great story and go through a lot of things, but without a doubt, for a Latin driver it is even more challenging.

“It’s hard to be away from home, from your country, and not just before you get to F1, but also during the years when you are part of the category. It’s a long time, being alone in a hotel on the other side of the world is certainly a bigger challenge for the drivers.”

Neither Franco Colapinto nor Sergio Perez are guaranteed a seat for 2025

Perez has been struggling to maximise the potential of the Red Bull car this season, and the team have lost the lead in the Constructors’ Championship to McLaren.

Perez could lose his seat to Lawson if the New Zealander continues to perform well at RB, building on his drive to 9th place at the United States Grand Prix.

Colapinto has driven admirably at Williams and finished 10th last time out, as he continues to perform well in the midfield.

The Argentinian is a contender for a seat at Sauber, although Colapinto needs to refine how he expresses feedback about the car.