Mexico eager to renew F1 race agreement amid Sergio Perez speculations

MEXICO CITY — Organizers of the Mexico City Grand Prix have made it clear that Sergio Perez's future in Formula 1 will not affect the continuation of the Mexican race on the F1 calendar.

Sergio Perez, who extended his contract with Red Bull Racing until 2025, has recently faced scrutiny due to inconsistent results. Meanwhile, the Mexico City Grand Prix, held at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, is negotiating an extension with Formula 1 as it prepares to draw 400,000 fans this weekend.

Alejandro Soberón, the president of the event, expressed confidence about the race's future. "We're fairly optimistic that we're going to have a race for many, many years," Soberón told media.

While Perez, known as "Checo," is a national hero who has helped sustain the event since 2015, Soberón denied that the event's fate is tied to Perez's career. "He's a great driver having a difficult season... The Mexican crowd, the fandom, is very strong for F1 in general. Obviously, Checo is a great enhancement for this."

Soberón stressed that the allure of Formula 1 in Mexico extends beyond individual drivers and has improved significantly in race quality. "Competition and quality of the spectacle at the track are enough to sustain the crowd's interest," he added.

He also pointed out that the event's popularity is not solely reliant on Perez. "There's very few races who have a local driver," Soberón noted. "We've enjoyed sold-out crowds in F1 everywhere, reflecting the competition and quality of the show."

Highlighting the event’s immense popularity, Soberón revealed that demand vastly exceeds capacity. "We could have drawn 600,000 — if we had unlimited capacity. While Perez's absence might cause a 20-25% drop in attendance, it would still be a sell-out."

As Mexico aims for another extension, the nation's passion for Formula 1 ensures that the Mexican Grand Prix will remain a significant fixture on the F1 calendar, independent of Perez's presence.

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