Sergio Perez wins first F1 Grand Prix without seat for 2021 season

Sergio Perez has pulled off the most unlikely of victories in the Sakhir F1 Grand Prix, but the stars luck may have quickly run out.

Racing Point celebrate a massive night, but after forcing Perez out.

The Sakhir Grand Prix delivered one of the more chaotic races in the most chaotic of seasons but the result has delivered a 50-year first.

The last Mexican driver to win an F1 race was Pedro Rodriguez who won the Belgian Grand Prix in June 1970 before he perished in a sports car race a year later.

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For Perez, the result was particularly stunning as he broke Mark Webber’s record for most races before his first win in his 190th race. Webber took 130 races for his first win.

It’s been a decade of hard work for Perez with Sauber, McLaren and now Racing Point after joining in 2014 when it was Force India.

The 30-year-old has been in the sport for a decade with the result miraculous considering he was taken out in the same incident that saw Max Verstappen taken out by Charles Leclerc on the first lap.

He was in last place at the end of the first lap after needing to pit before the crazy scenes that saw a Mercedes pit stop drama sending Valtteri Bottas and George Russell tumble down the leaderboard.

Perez was in tears on the top step of the podium and after the presentation sat down and celebrated the incredible result.

“I hope I’m not dreaming because I’ve been dreaming of this moment for 10 years,” Perez said.

“After the first lap, the race was gone. But it was all about not giving up, recovering. This season, the luck hasn’t been with us but I think today we won on merit.”

Sergio Perez will always be an F1 race winner.

The win sees Perez all but wrap up the fourth place on the drivers championship, 54 points ahead of his teammate Lance Stroll, who finished third in Sakhir. He sits 13 points ahead of Aussie Daniel Ricciardo in fifth.

But the celebrations are somewhat tempered by the fact that Perez still doesn’t have a drive for next year.

Earlier this year, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel — the four-time world champion is 13th in the drivers rankings this season by the way — will join Stroll as the team rebrands to Aston Martin.

Stroll is the son of Racing Point's part-owner and Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll.

It leaves Perez one race away from being left out in the cold and he was defiant after the result.

“After today, I’m determined to be here,” said 30-year-old Perez.

“My best option is to keep going next year but if I have to stop it is not a disaster, I can come back in 2022.”

But he also admitted the result “gives me a bit more peace with myself. What happens is not so much in my hands. I want to keep going”.

Perez has been strongly linked with most available seats on the F1 grid but most closely with Alexander Albon’s Red Bull seat.

While Red Bull have largely stood by Albon, team principal Christian Horner said the team will not decide on the make up on their line up until after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend.

Sergio Perez became the second Mexican F1 winner.

It’s believed to be a three-way battle between Albon, Perez and Nico Hulkenberg for the seat.

He has Stroll Sr. behind him as well with the Racing Point part-owner backing the Mexican star to partner Max Verstappen.

“Checo (Perez) has been a fantastic asset and he’s been an asset for this team a long time before I’ve arrived,” Stroll told Sky Sports.

“He most definitely proves every weekend that he deserves to be in a car next year and I hope he’s in that Red Bull (car) next year.”

Racing Point team principal Otmar Szafnauer also backed a move for Perez to Red Bull.

“He absolutely deserves to be in Formula 1. He did a great job today, he’s done a great job all season,” he said. “He definitely deserves a place on the grid.”

Social media went nuts for the shock victory.

Albon out.

Perez in.

It's only right!

— Ed Leake (@EdLeake) December 6, 2020

The way Perez is talking about him 'being at peace' now he's got an F1 race win and saying he pretty much already knows what's happening. Says to me Albon's staying at Red Bull.

— Tom Bellingham (@TommyWTF1) December 6, 2020

Early Christmas present for Sergio Perez.
What a crazy race at the Sakhir ciruit last night !. Who would have called, Perez, Ocon and Stroll on the podium? Imagine the odds on that?

— F1sasha (@F1sasha) December 7, 2020

That was probably one of the best races we’ve seen in a while. Proper racing. Absolutely gutted for @GeorgeRussell63 who should have been on the podium but what a win for #Perez! 👏 Also another podium for @RenaultF1Team & his first for @OconEsteban. What a race! 🏆🏁 #SakhirGP pic.twitter.com/5pdDFGJpqT

— Cllr Liam Walker (@_Liam_Walker_) December 6, 2020

Sergio Perez is the luckiest man on earth. Caused a first lap crash to take out two of the podium contenders before Mercedes completely throw the race away with a botched double pitstop. #SakhirGP

— Stephen Bark 🎙⚽️📰 (@Journo_Steve) December 6, 2020

It was a massive night for the grid with Renault’s Esteban Ocon also claiming his first podium with a second placed finish.

While Russell ended up finishing in ninth after the Mercedes disaster, it was also his first points finish in F1.