Perez incredibly proud: 'Hard for a country to have one F1 driver'

Sergio Perez believes the Mexican Grand Prix is the best race on the Formula 1 calendar. On Sunday, the home favourite will compete in his ninth Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodrguez circuit. The 34-year-old was asked to express his thoughts on his home event and recalls an incredibly proud moment when he was joined by a second Mexican driver on the grid.

"Yeah, it's been incredible. I think already since first year was very big, the event, the people were really enthusiastic," Perez said at the press conference. The Red Bull Racing driver is incredibly popular in Mexico and is therefore also highly regarded by the Mexicans. "And I think it won the award for the best Grand Prix for like four or five years in a row. And I think now it's just a lot better. I think it's still the best Grand Prix in the calendar," Perez proudly added.

Perez is no longer the only Mexican driving on the circuit this weekend in Formula 1. Patricio O'Ward drove Lando Norris' McLaren car during the first free practice session. He finished 13th fastest. "I think it's great for the fans. In the past, we had Esteban [Gutierrez] also. We had two Mexican drivers at the time. It's really hard for a country to have one Formula 1 driver. So to have two racing at the same time, it was just a unique moment. I's great for the crowd. And I hope Pato can get an opportunity soon in a team to be a racing driver in Formula 1," Perez concluded.

Gutierrez competed in just one Mexican Grand Prix. He did so whilst driving for Haas in 2016 and finished 19th. That year, Perez just scored points. The current Red Bull driver has climbed on the podium in Mexico twice (2021 and 2022), but retired from the 2023 after a crash at the start.

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