Sergio Pérez: F1 Bio, Stats & Career Timeline

Sergio Pérez is a Mexican Formula 1 driver for the Cadillac F1 Team. Born on 26 January 1990 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Pérez — known throughout the paddock as "Checo" — is the most successful Mexican driver in Formula 1 history, and one of very few drivers to return to a race seat after appearing to have retired from the sport.

Early Life and Junior Career

Pérez began racing karts as a child before progressing through junior single-seater categories, including Formula BMW ADAC and the A1 Grand Prix Series with Team Mexico. He won the British Formula 3 National Class title in 2007, then joined the GP2 Asia Series and GP2 Series, finishing runner-up in the 2010 GP2 championship to Pastor Maldonado. He was a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy from 2010 to 2012 before signing with Sauber for his Formula 1 debut.

Formula 1 Debut and the Midfield Years (2011–2020)

Pérez made his Formula 1 debut with Sauber at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix, taking his first career podium the following season at the Malaysian Grand Prix. He moved to McLaren in 2013 before settling into a long and productive spell with Force India from 2014, becoming known as one of the sport's best tyre managers and a consistent points-scorer for a midfield team. He continued with the outfit through its transition to Racing Point, taking a memorable maiden Formula 1 victory at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix in a race marked by a first-lap incident that eliminated several front-runners.

Red Bull Racing and Championship Contention (2021–2024)

Pérez's win convinced Red Bull Racing to sign him for 2021 to partner Max Verstappen, and he played a central role in the team's Constructors' Championship victories, taking further wins in Monaco and Singapore in 2022 and claiming his maiden pole position in Saudi Arabia. His finest season came in 2023, when he finished runner-up to Verstappen in the Drivers' Championship with victories in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan — the best championship finish of his career. A winless 2024 campaign led to a mutual decision to part ways with Red Bull at the end of the season, and Pérez did not feature on the 2025 grid.

Return with Cadillac (2026)

On 25 August 2025, Cadillac confirmed Pérez alongside Valtteri Bottas as its first-ever driver lineup for the American manufacturer's Formula 1 debut in 2026, bringing his wealth of race-winning experience to a brand-new team. His return marked one of the more notable comebacks in recent Formula 1 history, adding a proven race winner to Cadillac's inaugural season on the grid.

Personal Life

Pérez is married to Carola Martínez and has four children. He is widely credited with helping to popularise Formula 1 in Mexico, contributing to the return of the Mexican Grand Prix to the calendar and drawing some of the largest and most passionate crowds on the F1 calendar to Mexico City.

Key Career Facts at a Glance

• Full name: Sergio Michel Pérez Mendoza
• Nationality: Mexican
• Born: 26 January 1990, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
• Team: Cadillac-Ferrari
• Car number: 11
• F1 debut: 2011 Australian Grand Prix
• Career starts: 286
• Career wins: 6
• Career podiums: 39
• Career pole positions: 3
• World Championships: 0