Checo Pérez, USA News (Mexico City): Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez reached the milestone of 300 Formula 1 Grands Prix contested during the 2026 Mexico Grand Prix held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Dutch driver Max Verstappen claimed victory in the race, securing his sixth triumph on the Mexican circuit, while Italian driver Kimi Antonelli secured the world championship by finishing third.
Ahead of the event, media coverage highlighted the connection between Franco Colapinto and Checo Pérez, along with the support from Mexican fans. Pérez had an outstanding start, climbing six positions on the first lap and placing among the top 14 drivers, representing his best start since joining the Cadillac team. However, a problematic pit stop and a penalty caused him to lose ground and finish in seventeenth position.
The race was halted on lap 46 due to an accident involving Valtteri Bottas, who lost a tire and crashed into the barrier, prompting a red flag and a pause of several minutes while track repairs were carried out.
The 2026 Mexico Grand Prix was particularly symbolic for Checo Pérez as he celebrated his 300th Formula 1 race, a figure reached by few drivers in the history of the sport. The driver from Jalisco wore a commemorative helmet with Mexican motifs and expressed his emotion at experiencing the moment in front of the national crowd. Pérez thanked the public for their constant support and noted how special it was to race at home after a year away from the grid.
Pérez acknowledged that the season has been complicated for him and for Cadillac, as neither he nor his teammate Valtteri Bottas have managed to score points so far. The Mexican driver pointed out that the development of the car was halted to focus efforts on the next year, with the hope of competing for better results in 2027.
Max Verstappen secured his third victory of the season and his sixth in Mexico, solidifying his position as the driver with the most wins at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Kimi Antonelli was crowned world champion after finishing in third position and received congratulations from several drivers, including Checo Pérez. The race was also marked by a five-second penalty given to Charles Leclerc for cutting the track at turn 4 and failing to return the position gained.
