Sergio “Checo” Perez will line up for his 300th Formula 1 Grand Prix start this weekend at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The milestone lands exactly where it belongs—in front of the Mexican fans who have followed him from karting tracks in Guadalajara all the way to the top of the sport.
Calendar chaos earlier in the season, with the Saudi Arabian and Bahrain Grands Prix cancelled and Malaysia stepping in as a replacement, shifted the landmark start to Mexico City. What could have been just another number on a long career suddenly became a full-circle homecoming. Perez joins an exclusive club of only seven drivers to reach 300 starts, a list that includes Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Räikkönen, Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button. He is the first to do it in front of his own crowd.
**FROM GUADALAJARA KARTS TO THE GLOBAL STAGE**
Perez’s path was never the easy one. At 15 he left Mexico for Europe, competing in Formula BMW and later British Formula 3 and GP2. By the time he made his Formula 1 debut with Sauber in Australia in 2011, he was already the first Mexican full-time driver in three decades. Early podiums in Malaysia and Italy in 2012 showed the talent. Years of midfield consistency with McLaren and Force India/Racing Point built the reputation. Then came the breakthrough: the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix win after dropping to last on the opening lap, the first Mexican victory in more than 50 years.
That result opened the door to Red Bull. Between 2021 and 2023 he delivered five more wins, including Monaco and Singapore, three poles, and a career-best second place in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship. He helped the team to consecutive Constructors’ titles and played a key supporting role in Max Verstappen’s championship runs. After a difficult 2024 and a year away from the grid in 2025, he returned with Cadillac for the American manufacturer’s debut season, partnered with Valtteri Bottas. A recent multi-year extension keeps him with the team through at least 2029.
**WHY THIS MILESTONE MATTERS BEYOND THE NUMBER**
Three hundred starts is longevity in a brutal, high-pressure environment. It is also proof of resilience. Perez has survived midfield struggles, high-stakes team dynamics at Red Bull, public scrutiny, and a full season out of the car. Reaching the mark at home underlines how much Formula 1 has grown in Mexico since the race returned in 2015. The grandstands fill with passion rarely matched elsewhere on the calendar. Perez has repeatedly called the Mexican Grand Prix the best on the schedule, and the emotion is mutual.
For Cadillac, the weekend is more than a marketing opportunity. Having a proven, experienced driver with deep local connections helps a brand-new team build identity and commercial presence in a key market. General Motors has leaned into the occasion with a high-profile show run along Paseo de la Reforma that drew an estimated 100,000 fans. Perez drove a demonstration car, smoked the tyres, and greeted the crowd near the Angel of Independence. The images will travel far beyond Mexico.
**CAREER HIGHLIGHTS THAT STILL RESONATE**
Favourite memories of Checo tend to cluster around the same moments. The Sakhir fightback remains the purest expression of his racecraft—tyre management, composure under pressure, and never giving up. The 2021 Azerbaijan win, his first for Red Bull, proved he could deliver on the big stage. Monaco 2022 felt like validation after years of near-misses. The 2021 and 2022 home podiums at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez turned the Mexican Grand Prix into a genuine celebration rather than just another race. And the 2023 runner-up championship finish showed he could run with the very best over a full season.
These results did more than add numbers to a Wikipedia page. They inspired a new generation of Mexican drivers and made Formula 1 appointment viewing across the country. When Perez waves to the grandstands this weekend, he carries that collective energy with him.
**LOOKING AHEAD: WHAT COMES AFTER 300**
Cadillac is still finding its feet in its first season. Points have been scarce, and Perez has been realistic about the challenge of building a competitive car from the ground up. The Mexico weekend is unlikely to produce a miracle result, yet the atmosphere alone can lift a team. Longer term, the extension through 2029 gives both driver and team stability. Perez has spoken about the perspective he gained during his year away—the intensity of Formula 1, the scrutiny, and the realisation that not every single moment carries the same weight. That maturity may prove valuable as Cadillac develops.
For Mexican motorsport the milestone reinforces that sustained excellence is possible. Perez is no longer the plucky underdog. He is a 15-season veteran, six-time winner, and the most successful Mexican driver in Formula 1 history. Reaching 300 starts on home soil is both a personal triumph and a national one.
This Sunday the lights will go out in Mexico City and Checo Perez will begin another Grand Prix. The number 300 will flash across timing screens, but the real story is the journey that made it possible—the teenage move to Europe, the long midfield years, the breakthrough wins, the Red Bull chapter, the comeback with Cadillac, and the unwavering support of fans who never stopped believing. That is the memory worth holding onto.
