Red Bull’s Sergio “Checo” Perez and Mercedes ambassador Esteban Gutiérrez talk F1 culture—and all its glamour, drama, and hard work.
Despite a storied story and devoted outside fanbase , Formula 1 racing has only just latterly find mainstream popularity in the US . The sport that ’s become synonymous with dollar signs and peril has assure a firm spike in viewershipover the preceding four year , with a 47 % increase since 2021 alone — some of which I ’m sure we can impute to the prodigious success of drama - replete Netflix docu - seriesDrive to live .
The Austin Grand Prix is a pinnacle of the time of year — particularly with its rising star power in America — and swash peak prestige as celebrities and Formula 1 royal line alike descend upon the Lonestar State . For the jock themselves , the Circuit of the Americas is an important stop as their time of year rounds the quoin towards its culture . For fervour - hot Red Bull racing wiz , Sergio “ Checo ” Perez , who was recently crowned Singapore Grand Prix champ , it ’s about repeating his success and propel that impulse into the remaining contest .
“ It ’s evidently a very gravid race for us , ” Checo told Thrillist . “ The time of year is coming to an terminal . It ’s a weekend where we all want to do well , where we all require to succeed , and do things right … The electrical circuit is very [ challenge ] . It has very high - speed corner , very low - velocity ones so it ’s certainly a trial . ”
Sergio Perez
Former F1 sensation - turned - Mercedes ambassador and Edasi founder Esteban Gutiérrez reverberate Checo ’s sentiments , calling the challenger one of the “ most popular , ” peculiarly as it falls back - to - back with the similarly beloved Mexican GP .
“ I ’m look forward to have the energy of the fans at these races , as we are currently undergoing a period of modification in F1 due to the increase popularity of the sport , ” Gutiérrez said .
“ It ’s part of the sport , ” Checo said . “ It ’s part of the challenger . You want to beat them on the caterpillar track , off the track , and the competition never really settles . ”
Esteban Gutiérrez
And while it might seem like all glamor — after all , even Checo himself isteaming up with Cash App for a string of high muckamuck activations across Austinand actually cash giveaways — the sport is , more so than anything , about the grind .
“ rule 1 from the outside has a sight of glamour . It ’s a pinnacled play , but once you are in it , it ’s all about punishing work , dedication , commitment , and making certain everyone win . It ’s a team sportsman , ” Checo said .
One thing the pair seems to tally on ? The spirit level of endowment it takes to achieve that winner they ’re drive for .
Sergio Perez
“ It is such a eminent - bet sport , ” Gutiérrez reason out . “ There is an copiousness of fierce competitor and drama . The amount of downright innovation and skill that goes into creating these machine is splendid . Everything about it is the near in the world — the drivers to the technology . ”