When did Sergio Perez last win a Formula 1 Grand Prix?

Sergio Perez has six Grand Prix victories to his name in Formula 1. After the news broke that Perez signed a contract extension that keeps the Mexican at Red Bull Racing until 2026, he will be looking to add to that tally. However, Perez has been without a win since the 2023 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, a far longer period than he would have hoped when behind the wheel for the Austrian team. It will be 406 days since Perez was on the top step of the podium when the grid will line up for the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix.

Perez's whole career has been spent at the front of the grid. However, he has performed brilliantly for many of the teams that he has been a part of. After joining Sauber in 2011 for his debut year in F1, his first podium in his career came just a year later at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix, earning three more in that season. Five podium finishes at Force India also showcased the talent the 34-year-old has. However, after the Mexican moved to McLaren in 2013, he could not earn a podium finish, highlighting his fluctuating form in F1.

However, when Perez is in form, he is one of the better drivers on the grid, highlighted by a brilliant performance at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. The Mexican won the race after falling to the back of the grid due to a lap one incident, which was his first race victory of his career. After that stunning performance and finishing fourth in the drivers' standings with Racing Point, it gave him a move to Red Bull.

Perez joined Red Bull in 2021, clearly becoming the second driver behind Max Verstappen. However, the up-and-down form of the 34-year-old since joining the Austrian team has been noted. Since joining Red Bull, Perez has won five more races in his career, with his last victory coming at Baku in 2023. However, in that same time frame, Verstappen has won 48 races.

It is true that Perez will be in a car that has fewer upgrades compared to Verstappen, but his team has been at the front of the grid since the regulation change in 2022, and Perez has not been able to fully take advantage of that opportunity, winning only two races in 2022 and 2023, respectively. And even with his new contract extension, he has not challenged for a victory in 2024.

However, with 28 podiums in his time at Red Bull, along with being the most successful number two driver at Red Bull to partner Verstappen, it meant that Red Bull were inclined to offer Perez a two-year contract extension. With that, the Mexican will be eagerly searching for more Grand Prix victories to add to his tally.