For the next few weeks, as we await the return of racing, Motorsport Week will delve into the archives to search out the first time that our grid of 2020 F1 racers stepped into top-level machinery in a public forum.
Sergio Perez: midfield maestro, regular podium finisher and Racing Point/Force India veteran.
But a decade ago he was regarded as Ferrari’s potential next star.
Perez rose through the ranks, departing his native Mexico for the European racing scene, and starred in British F3 and the GP2 Series.
His performance in 2010 catapulted him to the attention of Formula 1 teams and Sauber signed him up for 2011 – and days later he joined Ferrari’s driver academy.
Perez’s first outing for Sauber came at the end of the 2010 in the team’s relatively unloved C29.
Perez got behind the wheel of the car during the Abu Dhabi test at the Yas Marina Circuit – the last to take place on Bridgestone rubber before the Pirellis made their debut a few days later.
Perez completed 91 laps on his first day in the C29 and then three days after added another 46 laps to the tally, with the Japanese tyres replaced by the Italian firm’s new compounds.
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