The Formula 1 community is in shock after the image of Sergio “Checo” Perez in a Mercedes uniform spread across social media on the morning of May 21, 2025, just before the Monaco Grand Prix. According to @F1Insider’s Post on X, Perez appeared in the paddock in the typical Mercedes suit, featuring silver, surprising both the media and fans. The event took place just hours after Motorsport.com revealed that Mercedes had sent out an official announcement, confirming that Perez would replace Kimi Antonelli for the Monaco race, marking the Mexican driver’s return to F1 after being dropped by Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season.
Pérez, 35, has won six Grand Prix in his career, a name no stranger to F1. After his absence, he was rumored to be joining Mercedes since early May, when Toto Wolff met him at Brackley. According to Auto Bild, Pérez’s contract with Mercedes is short-term, lasting until the end of the 2025 season, with the option to renew if he performs well. This decision came after Antonelli, despite being full of potential, consistently made mistakes, such as the collision in Miami, which resulted in the team losing important points. Pérez, with his experience and stability, is considered an instant solution for Mercedes to compete with McLaren and Red Bull, according to ESPN.
The image of Perez in a Mercedes uniform quickly became the focus at X. @checofansmx called it a “historic moment,” while @Formulaworld expressed concern that the pressure on Mercedes may be too great with Perez at this stage of his career. Still, he was confident, speaking to El Universal: “I’m here to show that I can still win.” Perez’s appearance in Monaco is not only striking, but also heated up the battle in the first group, where Mercedes sits third in the constructors’ championship table, 45 points behind McLaren, according to Formula1.com.
Toto Wolff, during a press conference in Monaco, stated that Pérez was a “perfect fit” to support George Russell, who has just renewed his contract until 2027. Wolff also emphasized that Pérez’s experience will help the team improve performance, especially in street racing, where he won in 2022. Antonelli’s Selfeem, who is considered the future of Meraco.
Mexican fans are celebrating Perez’s return, with the hashtag #Checomercedes trending across the board. With Monaco being one of the toughest races ever, all eyes are on Perez to see if he can help Mercedes return the flag to McLaren and Red Bull. Perez’s return is not just a personal story, but also a potential turning point for Mercedes in the dramatic 2025 season. With fan support and pressure from Paddock, Perez faced the opportunity to regenerate his career at the racing team that once dominated F1.
