Mexico has seen just six F1 drivers since the championship's launch in 1950
Here are the greatest Mexican drivers who have left their mark in F1 history
Mexico has seen just six Formula 1 drivers since the championship launch in 1950. Among them, Sergio Perez stands out as the most notable figure in today's sport. However, it's important to acknowledge the top 5 Mexican drivers in F1 who have left their mark in car racing history.
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In recent years, Mexican Formula 1 has been primarily represented by Sergio Perez, who is the most popular driver at online sportsbooks in Mexico of all time. However, he is not the only one to have conquered F1 tracks around the globe. Who were the others? Let's explore the top 5 Mexican drivers in F1 history.
Pedro Rodriguez
Pedro Rodriguez de la Vega was a very notable Mexican racer. He commenced his Formula 1 journey in 1963, clinching victories at the 1967 South African Grand Prix while driving a Cooper and the 1970 Belgian Grand Prix with a BRM. He was also recognized as the older sibling of Ricardo Rodriguez. Both brothers delved into racing at a young age, starting with motorcycles before transitioning to cars. After Ricardo's tragic demise in a racing accident in 1962, Pedro briefly contemplated retiring from racing but ultimately decided to continue. In sports car racing, Rodriguez achieved his first significant triumph alongside his brother at the 1961 Paris 1000km race, piloting a Ferrari 250 GT. Pedro also triumphed at the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Ford GT40, and in 1970-71, he secured eight victories driving a Porsche 917. Tragically, his life was cut short on July 11, 1971, during an Interserie sports car race at the Norisring in Nuremberg. Bet on the Mexican Grand Prix at 22BET.
Ricardo Rodriguez
Ricardo Valentin Rodriguez de la Vega participated in the 1961 and 1962 Formula 1 seasons. He entered the top 5 Mexican drivers in the F1 list by making history as the first Mexican driver to compete in a Formula 1 Grand Prix. Picture Source: Wikimedia CommonsAt just 19 years and 208 days old, he became the youngest driver to race for the renowned Italian team Ferrari at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix. He held this record until the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when Briton Oliver Bearman broke it at 18 years and 305 days old. His debut at the Italian Grand Prix also marked him as the youngest driver to start a Formula 1 race until the 1980 Canadian Grand Prix and the youngest driver to start from the first row until the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix. Additionally, at the 1962 Belgian Grand Prix, he became the youngest driver to earn points in Formula 1, a record he held until the 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix. Tragically, his passing at the age of 20 in 1962 made him the youngest Formula 1 driver to lose his life either. His older brother Pedro was also a renowned racing driver who achieved considerable success in sports car racing and F1, including a season with Ferrari in 1969, but who also met a fatal end in a racing accident.
Sergio Perez
Sergio "Checo" Perez, Red Bull Racing's star, inevitably enters the top 5 Mexican drivers in F1. He previously raced for Sauber, McLaren, Force India, and Racing Point. Perez has achieved 6 Grand Prix victories and secured 37 podium finishes. His first Grand Prix win occurred at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix while driving for Racing Point, setting a record for the most starts before a race win at 190. He also earned his maiden F1 pole position at the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, setting another record for the most races before achieving a first pole position at 215. Picture Source: Wikimedia CommonsBefore 2012, Perez was part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and made his Formula debut with Sauber in the 2011 season. His first F1 podium came at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix with Sauber. Perez joined McLaren for the 2013 season but did not secure any podium finishes, leading to his replacement by Kevin Magnussen for the 2014 season. He then signed a €15 million contract with Force India for the 2014 season and continued with the team through its transition to Racing Point in 2018. Racing Point extended his contract for three years in 2019. However, Perez announced his departure from Racing Point at the end of the 2020 season after Sebastian Vettel was signed to replace him. In the penultimate round of the 2020 season, Perez won his first race, which was mentioned earlier. In December, Perez joined Red Bull Racing for the 2021 season and is currently contracted with them until the conclusion of the 2024 season. In 2021, Perez was one of the key factors that allowed Max Verstappen to win the 2021 title after battling multiple times with Verstappen's main rival, Lewis Hamilton. Bet on Perez to finish at the podium in the current season at online gambling sites in Mexico.
Moises Solana
Moises Solana, a Mexican racing driver who participated in eight Formula 1 World Championship Grands Prix, made his debut in 1963, although he did not score any championship points. Additionally, he took part in a non-championship Formula 1 race and competed in Formula Two in 1968 with Team Lotus at the Jarama Circuit.One of Solana's distinctions in F1 history was starting a race in a car bearing the number 13, which has been considered unlucky in the sport. He achieved this with BRM during his Formula 1 debut at the 1963 Mexican Grand Prix, where he finished 11th despite an engine failure eight laps before the finish.
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Solana lost his life on July 27, 1969, during the Hillclimb Valle de Bravo-Bosencheve in Mexico, following a fatal accident in which his McLaren veered off track, hit a concrete trimming, overturned, and caught fire, resulting in his death. The Solana family remains active in motor racing and has produced handmade sports cars, primarily on a custom basis. Additionally, the first chicane at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City (turns 1–3) is named "the Moisés Solana Esses" in his honor.
Esteban Gutierrez
Esteban Manuel Gutierrez enters the top 5 Mexican drivers in F1. He is currently active in the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship with Glickenhaus Racing and the 2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship with CrowdStrike Racing by APR. He also serves as a development driver for Mercedes. Previously, from 2013 to 2014, Gutierrez competed for the Sauber Formula 1 team but lost his seat at the end of the 2014 season. He then joined Ferrari as their test and reserve driver for 2015 before racing for the Haas F1 Team in the 2016 season.In 2008, Gutierrez secured the Formula BMW Europe championship title, becoming the youngest Mexican driver to win an International Championship at 17 years old. He also claimed victory in the inaugural GP3 season in 2010. Transitioning to the GP2 parent series, Gutierrez made history with the Lotus GP team in 2012 as the first GP3 graduate to finish in the top three. Apart from Formula 1, Gutierrez has also competed in Formula E and the IndyCar Series.
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