After an outstanding season in which he finished in fourth place in the Formula One drivers’s championship, Tapatio Sergio “Checo” Perez has earned himself a seat in the second-best team in the racing category.

Perez, who won the first race of his ten-year F1 career in early December, will race for Red Bull, replacing Thai-British driver Alex Albon in 2021.

Despite his success this year with the Racing Point team, Perez was forced out to make way for former F1 champion Sebastian Vettel. The prospect of being without a drive in 2021 seemed certain until Red Bull stepped in and offered a lifeline.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said it was “impossible to ignore Perez’s performances in 2020.”

Red Bull finished second in the F1 constructor’s championship behind winners Mercedes.  Their Dutch driver Max Verstappen placed third behind the two Mercedes drivers.   

Perez won the Bahrain Grand Prix in December even though his car was struck on the first lap and he had to weave his way through the entire field to claim the lead.