66 F1 RACING DECEMBER 2019
The current regulationsend next year and a new set of rules, aimed
at reducing the gap between the top teams and midfield teams (such as
Racing Point), will arrive in 2021 along with a cost cap – that’s why the
investment is taking place back at base right now. Pérez believes that willto make, on a small kart track
housed in the bottom floor of the
mall. Chaos ensues once more as he
edges through the pressing bodies
of the crowd and heads for the lift- accidentally becomingestranged
from his Racing Point press attaché
in the process. A few minutes go
by in which he is lost to the team,
but a local aide has cleverly taken
Pérez to the kart track via an
underground car parking lot to
avoid detection.
When he arrives at the kart
track he greets Carlos Slim Jr, who
is already placing a helmet over
his head to try his hand against
a Formula 1 driver. There’s no
contest. Despite starting last, Checo
shimmies through the field to
emerge a comfortable victor.
Since the Autódromo Hermanos
Rodríguez returned tothe F 1
calendar in 2015 this weekendhas
always been one freightedwith
expectations for Pérez. For now,
though, a podium finish remains
unfinished business here: he’syet to
finish higher than seventh on home
ground. But, thanks to a contract
extension for the event, he’ll have
further opportunities to try again.
“It’s a race I wait all year long
for and I actually base the success
of my season on how well I do at
this race,” says Pérez. “Atevery
corner, wherever I’m on the track, I
can see people cheering me on and
that’s something very special. I’m
delighted that the organisers have
agreed to continue hosting the race
for another three years. Formula 1
has grown a lot inMexico and
people enjoy it. It’s important they
have someone to cheer for and have
a countryman there. For me, it was
very important that the Mexican
Grand Prix continued.”
With that, Checo attempts to
depart, but is once again cornered
by well-wishers, friends and fans.
As the sole representative of his
country in F1, he’s the one man
everyone wants to be with.be the chance to make further
progress with Racing Point.
“I think whatthe team is doing
at its factory, how hard everyone is
pushing and the investment that is
in place, means it will be a massive
opportunity. More than that, I
wanted a project that motivated
me. I’m 30 next year, so I have a
big season ahead.
“I’m aware that it’s closer to
the end [of my career] than the
beginning. Years go by so quickly
in this sport and we’ll see what
happens after these three years,
whether it’s my last or whether
we carry on. It will really depend
on if I’m enjoying it and am fully
motivated. Now that I’ve got family
to look after it’s very important that
I have a project that motivates me
to leave home every weekend.”
Checo has one final appearanceThefinalappearanceofabusydayfor
Perezwasatalocalindoorkarttrack.
Unsurprisingly,hewoncomfortably...“FORMULA 1
HAS GROWN A
LOT IN MEXICO
AND PEOPLE
ENJOY IT. IT’S
IMPORTANT THEY
HAVE SOMEONE
TO CHEERFOR
AND HAVEA
COUNTRYMAN
THERE”66 F1 RACING DECEMBER 2019
The current regulationsend next year and a new set of rules, aimed
at reducing the gap between the top teams and midfield teams (such as
Racing Point), will arrive in 2021 along with a cost cap – that’s why the
investment is taking place back at base right now. Pérez believes that will
to make, on a small kart track
housed in the bottom floor of the
mall. Chaos ensues once more as he
edges through the pressing bodies
of the crowd and heads for the lift- accidentally becomingestranged
from his Racing Point press attaché
in the process. A few minutes go
by in which he is lost to the team,
but a local aide has cleverly taken
Pérez to the kart track via an
underground car parking lot to
avoid detection.
When he arrives at the kart
track he greets Carlos Slim Jr, who
is already placing a helmet over
his head to try his hand against
a Formula 1 driver. There’s no
contest. Despite starting last, Checo
shimmies through the field to
emerge a comfortable victor.
Since the Autódromo Hermanos
Rodríguez returned tothe F 1
calendar in 2015 this weekendhas
always been one freightedwith
expectations for Pérez. For now,
though, a podium finish remains
unfinished business here: he’syet to
finish higher than seventh on home
ground. But, thanks to a contract
extension for the event, he’ll have
further opportunities to try again.
“It’s a race I wait all year long
for and I actually base the success
of my season on how well I do at
this race,” says Pérez. “Atevery
corner, wherever I’m on the track, I
can see people cheering me on and
that’s something very special. I’m
delighted that the organisers have
agreed to continue hosting the race
for another three years. Formula 1
has grown a lot inMexico and
people enjoy it. It’s important they
have someone to cheer for and have
a countryman there. For me, it was
very important that the Mexican
Grand Prix continued.”
With that, Checo attempts to
depart, but is once again cornered
by well-wishers, friends and fans.
As the sole representative of his
country in F1, he’s the one man
everyone wants to be with.be the chance to make further
progress with Racing Point.
“I think whatthe team is doing
at its factory, how hard everyone is
pushing and the investment that is
in place, means it will be a massive
opportunity. More than that, I
wanted a project that motivated
me. I’m 30 next year, so I have a
big season ahead.
“I’m aware that it’s closer to
the end [of my career] than the
beginning. Years go by so quickly
in this sport and we’ll see what
happens after these three years,
whether it’s my last or whether
we carry on. It will really depend
on if I’m enjoying it and am fully
motivated. Now that I’ve got family
to look after it’s very important that
I have a project that motivates me
to leave home every weekend.”
Checo has one final appearanceThefinalappearanceofabusydayfor
Perezwasatalocalindoorkarttrack.
Unsurprisingly,hewoncomfortably...“FORMULA 1
HAS GROWN A
LOT IN MEXICO
AND PEOPLE
ENJOY IT. IT’S
IMPORTANT THEY
HAVE SOMEONE
TO CHEERFOR
AND HAVEA
COUNTRYMAN
THERE”