It’s fair to say that Sergio Perez has had a difficult season so far in 2024, sitting with more than 200 points fewer than Red Bull team mate Max Verstappen.
So what did his race engineer Hugh Bird have to say to him in between sessions at his home grand prix in Mexico?
Can you come up with the best caption for this picture? Post your funniest suggestion in the comments below.
A selection of the best will feature in a future edition of the RaceFans Round-up.
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Ian Murtagh
16th November 2024, 11:18
Bird ” the rumour is that Marko has you in the secret Santa this year”
SPArtacus
17th November 2024, 5:05
lol. Mild, but for some reason I really like this one.
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
16th November 2024, 11:26
“That’s him … that’s Lawson.
Just stay cool”
SPArtacus
17th November 2024, 5:06
Haha
Sham (@sham)
16th November 2024, 11:31
The throttle pedal goes further than that…
notagrumpyfan
17th November 2024, 8:15
Building on that:
“Let’s move the pedals a bit closer to you, so you can push them all the way.”
Neil (@neilosjames)
16th November 2024, 12:08
“There are lots of jobs available with the FIA at the moment, so it wouldn’t be the end of the world if you did please decide to retire from racing…”
black (@black)
16th November 2024, 12:25
After many hours, Hugh Bird gave up trying to convince Perez that Q1 eliminations, do not in fact count towards the Constructors Championship
Miguel Bento (@miguelbento)
16th November 2024, 12:46
– “Come on Tom, let’s do just one more Mission Impossible !!”
– “No.”
David BR (@david-br)
16th November 2024, 17:56
@miguelbento Never noticed the resemblance before :)
Gilles Amon (@gillesamon)
16th November 2024, 13:05
Look, I also don’t know you labelled you “unknown”.
Gilles Amon (@gillesamon)
16th November 2024, 13:06
“who labelled”
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage- Special Unhinged Edition (@davedai)
17th November 2024, 5:06
Going by “Huge’s'” 14:49:54 I’m guessing Elon
SPArtacus
17th November 2024, 5:09
Mildly cruel, but funny and accurate.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage- Special Unhinged Edition (@davedai)
18th November 2024, 0:37
Stay behind the barrier please sir.
Coventry Climax
16th November 2024, 13:20
“I know Chassis, ES and PU are in the red, but you insisted on using your regular setup, so that’s what we did, even if it’s never worked before. But you still have 10 minutes and 6 seconds to figure it out, improve and make it into Q2.”
Helmut Marcopolo
16th November 2024, 13:38
“Retire”
Paul (@frankjaeger)
16th November 2024, 13:56
“I’ll tell you what my father told me, Checo, it’s time for you to fly the nest”
AndrewT (@andrewt)
16th November 2024, 14:50
“You shouldn’t have been caught with your pants down, Checo.”
Scalextric (@scalextric)
16th November 2024, 15:01
Yeah, I’m getting pretty good at playing the piano with my right hand
Maciek (@maciek)
16th November 2024, 15:13
I’m telling you, being Tom Cruise’s stand-in wouldn’t be a bad gig
Wonderbadger
16th November 2024, 15:40
“If you don’t perform at a higher level consistantly Checo, the team are likely to give me to you.”
Urvaksh (@thedoctor03)
16th November 2024, 16:12
Having heard Bird’s eloquent explanation on the use of hyphens, Checo finally understood why the team organised a big party when told he was agreeing to fare well.
The limit
16th November 2024, 16:18
Look, Sergio. Being a number two driver at Red Bull is not all that bad. Just look at all the good it did to the careers of Mark Webber, Daniel Ricciardo, Daniel Kyvat, etc
Andy (@andyfromsandy)
16th November 2024, 16:24
Look Sergio there is no “we” it is you who can’t drive the car.
neeyo (@neeyo)
16th November 2024, 17:32
“That stack of 100’s you give us every race is now going to have to be this high.”
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
18th November 2024, 19:30
Aha, suits the image very well!
Derek Edwards
16th November 2024, 17:44
Cheer up – you’re five places ahead of Max on the grid so it’s not like he’ll be past you before the first corner…
An Sionnach
16th November 2024, 17:44
“Go faster.”
tielemst
16th November 2024, 23:06
“Go away”
An Sionnach
17th November 2024, 11:27
I missed a trick. Since it’s a word from Bird, it should be a single one. I’d go for “Faster”, although Red Bull might prefer “Begone”!
rprp
16th November 2024, 18:08
On the plus side, when you don’t use up all of the 10-place grid penalty for taking a new engine, it doesn’t carry over into the next race.
WimB
16th November 2024, 19:38
“I know Max has an Aston Martin Valkyrie and the going-away gift we got you is a Honda Prius, but that’s just because the Prius is full electric and you’re so environmentally conscious.”
Moi
16th November 2024, 20:47
Everybody knows, the Bird is the word
Roth Man (@rdotquestionmark)
16th November 2024, 20:58
No pressure but just going to leave these retirement home pamphlets out, Daniel loved that one.
stjs16 (@stjs16)
16th November 2024, 21:13
It’s the taking part in the constructors championship, not the winning that counts!
Robbee
16th November 2024, 22:11
I know you don’t like the front end understeering, so we going to turn the car around and ask you to drive it in reverse to see if you can go quicker.
Jeanrien (@jeanrien)
16th November 2024, 22:31
Perez refused to drive if a little bird didn’t tell him he would be on the grid next year.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
16th November 2024, 22:52
Hugh: “So, without Carlos Slim’s sponsorship money, you’d be bringing me my coffee…”
Mark (@mrcento)
17th November 2024, 0:31
‘It was just a seat fitting at the factory, It doesn’t mean anything, We do them all the time, honest…..’
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
17th November 2024, 0:43
Sergio does not take it well when Christian gives him ‘The Bird’.
Mark Thomson (@melthom)
17th November 2024, 1:20
“Spread your wings and fly away – RB gives you wings, right? Take it from a real Bird””
j sc
17th November 2024, 3:22
Let’s disappear!
Jungle
17th November 2024, 4:25
Checo – “Why was Horner over in the Williams garage?”
Bird – “Was he?”
Checo – “Yes its all over the news as well. Whats going on?”
Bird – “Oh right….ah…yeah….hmmm…not sure. Think they’re old friends thats all. Yeah old friends just catching up. Thats it. Been a long season haven’t really had the chance before now. Nothing more to it than that.”
Dane
17th November 2024, 4:46
Bird: “So Max says he’ll pay you an extra million if you make him look good for the next round as well. People might even think he’s one of all time great by the end of the year!”
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage- Special Unhinged Edition (@davedai)
17th November 2024, 5:10
So,
I dream of what I need.
Isn’t there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
I need a hero, I’m holding out for a hero
‘He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh for a fight
I need a hero!
SPArtacus
17th November 2024, 5:17
The Bird, Bird, Bird. Bird is The Word.
Though in your case, Checo…
The Turd, Turd, Turd…Turd is The Word.
SPArtacus
17th November 2024, 5:22
So many good ones above as Checo is a big, easy target with all the humiliations, all his limp excuses and all the swirling media speculation around him for nearly entire season. I can’t believe no one’s connected and utilized “a word from Bird” with the song. Now, that annoying tune is in my head.
Deano
17th November 2024, 7:30
“…so it would be great if you could stop crashing into Liam, since he’ll be driving your car next season….”
Coventry Climax
17th November 2024, 9:46
“I know you’re not amused. But I am.”
Coventry Climax
17th November 2024, 9:50
“Tweet, tweet..”
stjs16 (@stjs16)
17th November 2024, 11:13
Checo, this is F1 not Sesame street!
Asd
17th November 2024, 11:48
“I’m telling you, those Renault Clios in the CLIO Cup are fast as hell, up to 220bhp, my mate’s team need a driver asap, a very good driver or even a great one, somebody who isn’t afraid to take on a challenge, somebody who isn’t scared to take the risk even if he crashes the car here and there, those Clios are dirt cheap anyway… Uhm, 200 and 20 brake horsepower – that is some serious power, right?”
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
17th November 2024, 12:35
Bird: “Loser!”
Osvaldas31 (@osvaldas31)
17th November 2024, 15:06
So you say, a bird cost you laptime, eh?
MR JUSTIN WARD
17th November 2024, 19:13
Bird, but seriously who do you think deserves your seat?
Placid (@placid)
17th November 2024, 20:10
Sorry, Checo. I just sent your resume. But Roger Penske has his positions filled.
Only Facts!
17th November 2024, 22:43
We have to rotate the driver’s. It’s the Law, son.
Only Facts!
17th November 2024, 22:44
*drivers
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
17th November 2024, 23:09
Hugh tried everything to amuse his grumpy driver. Not even his impression of Rod Hull and Emu worked.
Servisinho (@serv)
17th November 2024, 23:46
The moment Bird knew Sergio needed a good ol’ tickle
Chris Coppulotta
18th November 2024, 4:45
WHAT IS THAT ON MAX’S CAR?
Craig
18th November 2024, 11:56
Sergio had heard Hugh tell that terrible joke so many times that he simply couldn’t bring himself to humour him any longer.
Electroball76
20th November 2024, 8:05
So, always ask the customer if they would like the large meal, and if they require any ketchup or sauces.