Mexican Formula 1 (F1) driver Sergio Checo Pérez was a special guest on The Tonight Show.
F1 has started to warm up engines for the start of the 2023 season. With it, the drivers of the 2022 Constructors’ World Championship champion team, Red Bull Racing, for which the native of Jalisco competes alongside his teammate, Dutchman Max Verstappen, is also getting ready.
However, Checo faced a new rival before the start of what is expected to be the best period of his sporting career: American comedian Jimmy Fallon, who challenged Perez to an indoor go-kart competition as part of Ford’s return to supply the red bull’s engines as of 2026.
“I think you’re the ideal candidate to beat one of the best F1 drivers in the world,” Ford CEO Jim Farley told Fallon as the latter raced alongside Perez after some friendly coaching from Farley.
This is how Farley welcomed the Mexican, whom he pointed out as one of the best F1 drivers in the world: “I’m very excited to have one of the best F1 drivers in history,” said the CEO shortly before Fallon starred in a hilarious entrance for his embarrassing suit.
— “What happened, Checo?”
— “Nice suit,” Pérez commented.
— “I was looking for a more streamlined look. I’ll go change,” said Fallon before running off and changing for the race, which Red Bull team boss Christian Horner witnessed.
— “We’ll have a good race. Keep it clean out there. Don’t crash, don’t hit each other. Go out there and have fun. Good luck, and may the best man win,” he commented before the start of the competition that the presenter and comedian ended up conquering.
— “CHAMPION!” he exclaimed with glee. “I think Christian Horner wants me for Red Bull,” he posted with a humorous tone on his Twitter account. For his part, Red Bull’s Jalisco native was grateful for the reception and, after losing to Fallon, yearned for an upcoming rematch.
“I had a good time with Jimmy Fallon, thank you. I can’t wait for the rematch.”
Sergio Checo Perez
Red Bull unveils new single-seater for the 2023 season
From New York, Red Bull Racing’s new single-seater for the 2023 F1 season was unveiled to the public: the long-awaited RB19. The ceremony was attended by Christian Horner together with the two drivers, Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, as well as Daniel Ricciardo.
In a meeting with the press, the world champion said that he had already had the opportunity to test the new car in the simulator but said he had little to highlight in terms of developments. For his part, Horner indicated that they kept the base of the RB18, given the few changes in the technical regulations.
Another of the points also highlighted at the February 3 conference was the news that Ford will return to the “Grand Circus” for 2026, this time to make Red Bull’s engines.
“Ford is returning to the pinnacle of the sport, bringing Ford’s long tradition of innovation, sustainability, and electrification to one of the world’s most visible stages,” noted Jim Farley.
This is how “the Detroit Giant” will return to the top motorsport circuit after 22 years, thus leaving the red bull team’s link with Japan’s Honda.