Riding in style: Sergio 'Checo' Pérez will honor his Latino roots with special helmet at the Miami Grand Prix

SEATTLE - Sergio "Checo" Pérez will wear a special-edition helmet as he competes for first place in the Miami Grand Prix, with the Red Bull driver dedicating this race to all of Latin America.

Pérez's new design will include the flags of all Latin American countries in the crown of the helmet. Adorned by gator scales all around the helmet, Pérez will also pays homage to the famous animal that inhabits the state of Florida. The back of the design includes the phrase "Never Give Up," as Pérez will try to win his first Formula 1 Grand Prix since Azerbaijan in 2023.

A proud Mexican, the design will also honor Pérez' humble beginnings in the sport with the addition of the word "Guadalajara," his native city. "Checo" began his career in the world of racing at the age of six, karting around the city's tracks in the late 1990s.

If Pérez is to dethrone Max Verstappen in Miami, he will have to do it in style. His Red Bull Racing teammate has won each of the last six Formula 1 races held in the United States dating back to 2021, including the previous two Miami races.

Pérez sits in second place in the drivers' race standings with 85 points thanks to four podiums in five races. The Mexican is currently on his longest streak without a win since he joined Red Bull, with 23 races without a first-place finish. The closest Pérez has been to snapping that streak was last year at the Miami circuit, finishing just over five second behind Max Verstappen.

"Checo" won't be the only driver with a special-edition look in Miami this weekend. Ferrari will change its traditional red colors for the Miami Grand Prix as part of the team's 70th anniversary in North America.

One of the blue shades set to be used by Ferrari this weekend include the Azurro La Plata, paying homage to legendary drivers from the past, including Argentine José Froilán González, who was the first driver to win a Gran Prix for Ferrari in Formula 1 history.

For a third straight year, the city of Miami is expected to host one of the best races in the Formula 1 calendar. Last year, more than 240,000 fans attended the three-day event, with tourists spending $150 million during the race week.