Perez says fame is hard for him

Six‑time Grand Prix winner Sergio Pérez opened up about how fame feels like a burden, explaining why he keeps his family life separate. He returns for 2026 with the new Cadillac‑backed American team, hoping to balance his national hero status with a quieter personal life.

Why it matters:

Drivers are under constant media glare, and mental wellbeing can directly affect performance. Pérez’s honesty highlights the pressure of representing Mexico and fuels the wider debate on privacy and mental‑health support in F1.

The details:

• 2011: Debuted full‑time with Sauber, starting his F1 career.
• 2022‑24: Joined Red Bull, secured six wins including the 2023 Saudi GP.
• 2024‑25: Racing Point passed on him; Red Bull kept him on, but he sat out 2025 to reflect on fame and family.
• 2026: Signs with the Cadillac‑backed American team as its lead driver.
• “I’m very private. Fame is hard for me; I wasn’t born for it,” Pérez told the Cracks podcast.
• He contrasts his own discomfort with his father Antonio’s love of the spotlight, stressing the need to keep his “worlds” separate to protect relationships and mental health. These milestones illustrate both his on‑track successes and the personal challenges that shape his approach to fame.

What's next:

The 2026 season gives Pérez a chance to race while limiting the off‑track spotlight. He hopes to inspire future Mexican talent without becoming a perpetual media fixture, and the low‑key branding of the Cadillac team could finally give him the privacy he craves.