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Mexico's return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2014, after more than 20 years' absence, will be one of the highlights of the season, said the country's leading racer Sergio Perez.
MONZA, Italy - McLaren Sergio Perez will be hoping to have a car capable of winning his home F1 race after a lacklustre season in 2013. Perez said a podium at the 2013 Italian Grand Prix would be huge.
A draft calendar circulated to teams before the Monza race had a record 21 rounds, with Mexico listed for November 9 2014, the week before the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
'GREAT FOR THE SPORT'
Perez said: "I'm very excited. It's not confirmed yet, it's just a pre-calendar but I feel there are very big chances now of this happening.
"It will be great for my country, great for the sport. F1 will be amazed how popular this grand prix can become...it will be huge for F1 as a sport to go there."
Mexico last hosted a grand prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in 1992, when Nigel Mansell was triumphant for Williams who were a top team in those days.
They have scored just one point in 2013 and that is not the only way in which the sport's landscape has changed with new venues like Russia and India opening up.
The 2012 inaugural race in Austin drew a strong Latin crowd from both sides of the border and Perez agreed having the two races together would be like having two home grands prix in succession.
He said he had been kept abreast of developments in Mexico City and was there in August 2013 to watch his brother race.
Perez said: "I know how good the racetrack is. Obviously they need to rebuild it but there is time enough. I really hope for the good of the sport and my country that it happens."
Perez reckoned months of work would be required to upgrade Mexico GP circuit: "Looking at it, they have to change the pits to make them proper for F1, (improve) a few corners maybe and apart from that it's just a matter of time what they can do.
"I think they don't have to do big things for the racetrack to be ready."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Italian grand prix weekend.
MONZA, Italy - McLaren Sergio Perez will be hoping to have a car capable of winning his home F1 race after a lacklustre season in 2013. Perez said a podium at the 2013 Italian Grand Prix would be huge.
A draft calendar circulated to teams before the Monza race had a record 21 rounds, with Mexico listed for November 9 2014, the week before the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
'GREAT FOR THE SPORT'
Perez said: "I'm very excited. It's not confirmed yet, it's just a pre-calendar but I feel there are very big chances now of this happening.
"It will be great for my country, great for the sport. F1 will be amazed how popular this grand prix can become...it will be huge for F1 as a sport to go there."
Mexico last hosted a grand prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in 1992, when Nigel Mansell was triumphant for Williams who were a top team in those days.
They have scored just one point in 2013 and that is not the only way in which the sport's landscape has changed with new venues like Russia and India opening up.
The 2012 inaugural race in Austin drew a strong Latin crowd from both sides of the border and Perez agreed having the two races together would be like having two home grands prix in succession.
He said he had been kept abreast of developments in Mexico City and was there in August 2013 to watch his brother race.
Perez said: "I know how good the racetrack is. Obviously they need to rebuild it but there is time enough. I really hope for the good of the sport and my country that it happens."
Perez reckoned months of work would be required to upgrade Mexico GP circuit: "Looking at it, they have to change the pits to make them proper for F1, (improve) a few corners maybe and apart from that it's just a matter of time what they can do.
"I think they don't have to do big things for the racetrack to be ready."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Italian grand prix weekend.