Formula One has seen its fair share of talented Mexican F1 drivers grace the grid over the years. Though they haven’t achieved the same level of success as some of their European or South American counterparts, Mexican F1 drivers have made great contributions to the sport and earned their place in F1 history.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the journeys of six Mexican F1 drivers, from the Pedro and Ricardo Rodriguez brothers in the 1960s, to more recent competitors like Sergio Perez. For each driver, we will look at important statistics like number of race entries, points, podiums and victories, while also highlighting some of the key moments that defined their careers.
6. Ricardo Rodríguez
Ricardo Rodríguez was the first one of the Mexican F1 drivers. Although he didn’t have much success in the sports, he initiated the wave of Mexican F1 drivers in the 60s and 70s. Ricardo Rodríguez wasn’t the worst of F1 drivers from Mexico – he scored 4 points, finishing 4th in Belgian Grand Prix and 6th in the German Grand Prix during the 1962 F1 season.
Ricardo Rodríguez F1 stats
- Races Entered: 5
- Championship Points: 4
- Podium Finishes: 0
- Race Victories: 0
5. Moisés Solana
Though his results in F1 were modest, Moisés Solana deserves credit for being one of Mexico’s early racing pioneers. He was the least successful of the Mexican F1 drivers. Solana participated in a total of 8 Grands Prix between 1963 and 1968, entering races in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Driving privately-entered cars from teams like UDT Laystall Racing and Rob Walker Racing, Solana was unfortunately never able to score any championship points. His best result was 11th at the 1963 Mexican Grand Prix for UDT Laystall. He made his last F1 appearance in 1968 before continuing to race successfully in the Mexican Road Racing Championship.
4. Esteban Gutiérrez
Esteban Gutiérrez is Mexico’s most recent representative in Formula One. He drove for Sauber in 2013 and 2014, securing a contract as a test driver for Ferrari in 2015 before returning to race for the new Haas F1 team in 2016.
While Gutiérrez’s first year with Sauber was largely disappointing, he showed impressive improvement in 2014 by consistently challenging for points. He recorded his best result with 7th at the 2014 Chinese Grand Prix and out-qualified his experienced teammate Adrian Sutil 13-8 over the course of the season.
A lack of funding saw Gutiérrez lose his 2016 Haas seat to Romain Grosjean after failing to score any points. His last appearance came at that year’s Brazilian Grand Prix. While his F1 career was short-lived, Gutiérrez has gone on to race successfully in Formula E and IndyCar.
Esteban Gutiérrez F1 Career Stats:
- Races Entered: 59
- Championship Points: 6
- Podium Finishes: 0
- Race Victories: 0
3. Héctor Rebaque
Héctor Rebaque competed in Formula One between 1977 and 1981, racing for teams like Team Lotus, Team Rebaque and Brabham Racing. Though he failed to achieve any podium finishes, Rebaque’s determined driving style and ability to bounce back from adversity made him a fan favorite.
Rebaque recorded his best championship finishes of 8th in 1978 and 1980, scoring a total of 13 points from 41 race entries over his five-year F1 career. Arguably his standout drive came in the 1979 Argentinian GP, where he finished 5th in his privately entered Lotus. Financial difficulties saw Rebaque exit the sport at the end of 1981.
Héctor Rebaque F1 Career Stats:
- Races Entered: 41
- Championship Points: 13
- Podium Finishes: 0
- Race Victories: 0
2. Pedro Rodríguez
Pedro Rodríguez was Mexico’s first Grand Prix superstar, with his swashbuckling driving style and courage earning him wins for teams like Cooper, BRM and Ferrari in the late 1960s.
Rodríguez made his debut at the 1963 US Grand Prix and scored his maiden victory at the 1967 South African GP – the first ever win by a Mexican driver. Further success followed in 1970 with BRM, where Rodríguez brilliantly won that year’s Belgian GP after a thrilling dice for the lead.
Tragically, Rodríguez was killed in July 1971 while racing at Norisring. He competed in 55 World Championship Grands Prix, winning 2 and scoring 7 podium finishes before his death at the age of 31.
Pedro Rodríguez F1 Career Stats:
- Races Entered: 55
- Championship Points: 71
- Podium Finishes: 7
- Race Victories: 2
1. Sergio Pérez
In the modern era, Sergio “Checo” Pérez stands out as by far Mexico’s most successful Formula One driver. After becoming one of Sauber’s youngest recruits in 2011, Pérez has gone on to achieve multiple Grand Prix wins, podiums and pole positions driving for a championship-contending team like Red Bull.
The highlights of Pérez’s career include several F1 race victories he scored for Red Bull, since joining the team in 2021, but by far the most impressive is his 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix victory. Dropping all the way to last on the first lap, Perez managed an amazing comeback, and sprinkled with a bit of luck, took his first F1 race win after starting in 190 races.
As of the date of publication of this article, Pérez has participated in 271 GPs, scoring 1617 points with 6 wins and 39 podiums. Having twice finished 3rd in the championship for Red Bull, and once being second only to Max Verstappen, he continues to be an integral part of the team’s 2024 title challenge. But with a significant drop in his form, there are many questions whether the Red Bull team will continue the season with Sergio Perez as one of their drivers. If the Mexican F1 driver does not improve his situation, he may find himself out of options for the 2025 season.
Sergio Pérez F1 Career Stats:
- Races Entered: 271
- Championship Points: 1617
- Podium Finishes: 39
- Race Victories: 6
The Legacy of Mexican F1 Drivers
While Mexico lacks the racing pedigree and infrastructure of nations like Britain or Italy, the Mexican F1 drivers like the Rodríguez brothers and more recently Sergio Pérez have proven that raw talent and determination can sometimes trump bigger budgets and resources.
Their bold, aggressive driving styles characterized by incredible car control and overtaking skills have made Mexican F1 drivers hugely popular figures both at home and globally. With rising talents like Rafael Villagómez and Noel León aiming to enter Formula One soon, this proud racing legacy is likely to continue in the years ahead.
