Sergio Pérez knows what it means to sit among the elite. As one of only 22 drivers on the Formula 1 grid, the Mexican star has lived the dream that countless racers chase.
Yet for the six-time Grand Prix winner, fame has never been an easy passenger, even as it has followed him from his first full-time F1 campaign with Sauber in 2011 to his latest chapter with Cadillac in 2026.
After almost leaving the sport when Racing Point opted not to retain him, Pérez’s career was rescued by Red Bull, where he spent four seasons before parting ways at the end of 2024.
A year away from the grid gave him space to reflect, and now, returning with America’s newest F1 team, the 35-year-old carries both the hopes of Mexico and the weight of the spotlight he admits he was never born for.
In a candid interview on the Cracks podcast, Pérez revealed just how challenging it is to balance life as a family man with life as an F1 star.
“I think I like to separate things, I like to keep my worlds separate; I don’t like mixing them much,” he explained.
“I think I’ve done that since I was very young, and in the end, when you’re such a well-known character, you automatically close yourself off, no matter how much you want more relationships or more friends. Your world automatically shrinks a lot.”
Fame vs. Family: The Private Life of an F1 Hero
For Pérez, even the company of friends can feel overwhelming under constant public attention.
“So when I’m with my friends, I already have my friends, and it’s hard to make new friendships in that sense because there are so many people around you that you always feel – I feel – very overwhelmed.
“I’m very private. Fame is very hard for me. You wouldn’t imagine it, but it’s hard for me. I’m a person who wasn’t born to be famous.”
Sergio Perez with his father Antonio Perez, during the drivers parade at the US GP in 2018.
He contrasts his own aversion to the spotlight with other personalities in his life.
“I think there are people and personalities that are made for fame,” he added.
“For example, my dad is a person born for fame, and he always seeks it and always wants attention, right? And I’m the complete opposite. It’s something that’s always been very hard for me.
“So fame has always been difficult, and I think that’s why I’ve always separated it and know that this is a very important moment in my life – a moment where I inspire a lot of people. But it will pass, right? And tomorrow, I hope to be less known in the world and have a calmer life.”
As Pérez readies himself for the 2026 season, the spotlight is unavoidable — yet the Mexican driver remains determined to protect the private world that keeps him grounded.
For fans, he is an icon, a symbol of resilience and national pride. For Pérez, fame is simply another challenge to navigate, on and off the track.
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