The Secret Life of… Sergio Perez

Sergio Perez Mendoza, also known as ‘Checo’ Perez, has been a firm fixture on the Formula 1 grid since 2011. But six years on, you’ll be amazed by the things you still don’t know about Force India’s Mexican driver…

Q: Apart from driving a Formula One car, what is your favourite buzz?

Sergio Perez: My football team. I have my own football team with friends. It is pretty professional! When I am back in Mexico I spend a lot of time with the team. I think I can say that I am a good player – a good striker!

Q: Which film last made you cry?

SP: Life is Beautiful.

Q: What are you afraid of?

SP: I have discovered lately that I suffer from trypophobia – it’s a fear of patterns of holes. You'll have to look it up…

Q: What was the last book you read?

SP: Urbrands by Spanish author Risto Mejide. It’s about building a brand like building a city.

Q: What did your teachers say about you in your school report?

SP: That I needed to calm down and study more.

Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures?

SP: Desserts – tiramisu! Any kind of tiramusu, I jump on it! (Laughs)

Q: Do you collect anything?

SP: Watches. Serious watches. For every important moment in my life I buy a watch. So every watch has a meaning for me. So far I have 20.

Q: What do you miss most about home when you’re travelling?

SP: Home, family – and my bed!

Q: What was your worst buy?

SP: The list is long – I don’t know where to start. Ah, I bought an electric helicopter for my dog.

Q: What’s your ideal non-race Sunday?

SP: Home. Spending the morning playing football. Then go to church and have a good lunch with the family.

Q: What’s the most embarrassing mistake you’ve ever made?

SP: Nothing comes to my mind!

Q: Which superpower would you prefer: being able to fly or being able to become invisible?

SP: Fly. Superman here I come! (Laughs)

Q: What do you sing in the shower?

SP: Yes, I do sing under the shower. Anything that comes to my mind in that very moment. Many Mexican songs…

Q: Do you believe in love at first sight?

SP: Not really.

Q: What’s the worst thing about being famous?

SP: That people look at you, stare at you, talk about you – and you feel it.

Q: What’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked?

SP: What kind of music do I listen to during the race.

Q: What is on you ‘bucket list’?

SP: A Formula One World Championship – and a couple of kids.

Q: You can invite three people to dinner, living or dead. Who do you invite?

SP: Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Pablo Escobar.

Q: What was the best thing about being a child?

SP: That you have no preoccupation.

Q: What should everyone try once in their lifetime?

SP: A cheap pleasure: bungee jumping.