Quick Summary
- F1: Sergio “Checo” Pérez: 6 Grand Prix wins, now with Cadillac
- IndyCar: Pato O’Ward: 12 wins with Arrow McLaren, 2025 runner-up
- NASCAR Cup: Daniel Suárez: 3 Cup wins, the only Mexican to win at NASCAR’s top level
- Rising star: Noel León: 3 Formula 2 wins as a 2026 rookie
- NASCAR Mexico: Rubén García Jr.: record 5 titles
- Off-road: Alan Ampudia: 2019 Baja 1000 winner, 2x SCORE Trophy Truck champion
Mexico has produced world-class drivers in almost every form of motorsport, from Formula 1 and IndyCar to NASCAR and the Baja deserts. Here are the Mexican drivers to follow in 2026, with verified career stats, plus the legends who paved the way.
Mexican Drivers to Follow in 2026
| Driver | Discipline | 2026 team | Headline stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sergio “Checo” Pérez | Formula 1 | Cadillac F1 Team | 6 wins, 39 podiums |
| Pato O’Ward | IndyCar | Arrow McLaren | 12 wins; 4th in 2026 |
| Daniel Suárez | NASCAR Cup | Spire Motorsports | 3 Cup wins; 2016 Xfinity champion |
| Noel León | Formula 2 | Campos Racing | 3 wins as a rookie |
| Rubén García Jr. | NASCAR Mexico Series | Team GP / Canel’s | Record 5 titles |
| Alan Ampudia | SCORE off-road | No. 1 Ford Raptor Trophy Truck | 2x Trophy Truck champion |
| Andrés Pérez de Lara | NASCAR Truck Series | Niece Motorsports, No. 44 | Full-time 2026 Truck Series driver |
| Rafael Villagómez | Formula 2 | Van Amersfoort Racing | Third F2 season |
Legends of Mexican Motorsport
| Driver | Era | Why he matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pedro Rodríguez (1940–1971) | F1 and sports cars | 2 F1 wins (South Africa 1967, Belgium 1970), the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans, and two Daytona 24 Hours wins |
| Ricardo Rodríguez (1942–1962) | F1 | Mexico’s first F1 driver and, at the time, the youngest ever F1 starter. The Mexico City circuit is named for both brothers |
| Adrián Fernández (b. 1963) | CART/IRL and sports cars | 11 combined CART and IRL wins, CART runner-up in 2000, and the 2009 ALMS LMP2 title |
| Esteban Gutiérrez (b. 1991) | F1 | 2010 GP3 champion and 59 F1 starts with Sauber and Haas |
| Memo Rojas (b. 1981) | Sports cars | 4-time Grand-Am champion, 3-time Rolex 24 at Daytona winner, and 2-time European Le Mans Series LMP2 champion |
| Carlos Pardo (1975–2009) | NASCAR Mexico | First champion of the series in 2004. He was killed in a crash while leading at Puebla in 2009 |
See who has won Mexico’s own biggest races on our Mexico Race Winners pages.
FAQ
Who is the most successful Mexican F1 driver?
Sergio “Checo” Pérez, with 6 Grand Prix wins, 3 poles and 39 podiums, and 2nd place in the 2023 championship.
Are there Mexican drivers in IndyCar?
Yes. Pato O’Ward drives for Arrow McLaren and has won 12 IndyCar races.
Has a Mexican driver won in NASCAR’s Cup Series?
Yes. Daniel Suárez has 3 Cup wins: Sonoma in 2022, Atlanta in 2024 and the 2026 Coca-Cola 600.
Sources: Formula 1 – Sergio Pérez · IndyCar – Pato O’Ward · NASCAR.com – Daniel Suárez · FIA F2 – Noel León · SpeedwayMedia – Andrés Pérez de Lara · Wikipedia – Pedro Rodríguez · Wikipedia – Ricardo Rodríguez · Autosport – Adrián Fernández · Wikipedia – Memo Rojas · Wikipedia – Carlos Pardo. Facts verified September 2026.