Daniel Suárez has welcomed his Mexican compatriot, former F1 driver Sergio Pérez, to NASCAR, though he cautioned that American motorsport is no easy transition. In an interview with SpeedFreaks, Suárez said he would love to see Pérez compete in a Cup Series race this year.
Although Suárez is excited about the possibility of fellow Mexican racer “Checo” Pérez making the switch from Formula 1 to NASCAR, he also warned that the transition wouldn’t be simple — even with Pérez’s impressive achievements in F1. Suárez emphasized that the move comes with its own set of challenges.
Daniel Suárez Addresses F1 Star Sergio Pérez’s Possibility of Joining NASCAR
Speaking about Checo potentially racing in NASCAR this year, particularly with the upcoming Cup Series race in Mexico City in June, Suárez said, “It’s not that easy. Checo, you know, is an amazing racing driver. He has done a lot of great things for Mexico and for Formula 1. With that being said, his focus is not to be racing in different series right now.”
Suárez added, “For him to come to NASCAR, the reality is a big risk because he has never raced these cars before. He doesn’t have experience with these cars, he doesn’t have experience with these drivers — we do. So the chances of him running in the top 5, top 10, are very thin, and that’s not good.”
Despite the challenges, Suárez expressed his excitement at the idea of the former Red Bull driver joining NASCAR for a race. He shared, “But I just think that I would love to have him, you know. I think that would be amazing. But it wouldn’t be the best thing for him.”
NASCAR is set to make history in June with its inaugural race in Mexico City at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The event marks a major milestone in NASCAR’s expansion into international markets.
The Trackhouse Racing driver, originally from Mexico, has also expressed his excitement about racing in his home country. Suárez shared that competing in Mexico City would be a deeply personal and special experience.
He told the Associated Press, “I don’t think many people actually realize how special this is for me because it’s not every day that I get to show these guys my home, my culture.
“Everyone has an idea — they’ve been to Cancun or somewhere like that. But to come to Mexico City and take them to very authentic places and see the city, it’s just been amazing to show them what they are going to experience in June.”
Meanwhile, Perez’s future in motorsports remains uncertain following his departure from Red Bull Racing at the end of the previous Formula 1 season.