Sports fans who say Formula One is too predictable obviously weren’t watching the British Grand Prix last Sunday.

In one of the most thrilling races in recent seasons, Guadalajara’s star driver Sergio “Checo” Perez of the Red Bull team offered a masterclass in perseverance. After starting in fourth place on the grid, he dropped back to last spot after a minor skirmish on the opening curve necessitated an early pit stop.  He then worked his way up through the field to finish second, while providing some classic moments of wheel-to-wheel racing at over 200 miles per hour with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Both Perez and Hamilton later commented that their toe-to-toe duel on the final laps reminded them of their karting days as young teens; “pure racing” was how several F1 commentators described their battle.

Perez’s second-place finish moves the Tapatio to within 34 points of leader (teammate) Jan Verstappen in the F1 driver’s championship standings.

Although Verstappen remains top dog in the Red Bull team, depending on how results go in the next few races, Perez still has a real chance of becoming the first Mexican to lift the F1 crown.

Next up is the Austrian Grand Prix, Sunday, July 9. Guadalajara motorsports fans will be watching keenly.