Ecclestone: a 5-year contract for a Mexican GP from 2013?

Since Sergio Pérez’s arrival in Formula One and Carlos Slim’s financial investment, known as the world’s richest man, the return of a Grand Prix on Mexican soil has been more or less in the pipeline for many years. However, according to the Spanish newspaper Marca, Nigel Mansell, the last winner of the Mexican Grand Prix in 1992, could find a successor as early as next year.

The event could be held in June, replacing the European Grand Prix, while the Valencia street circuit is expected to now host the Spanish Grand Prix alternately with the Barcelona circuit. The project is supported by the numerous Mexican partners of the Sauber driver, among which, naturally, is Telmex, but also Interprotección, Tequila Cuervo, and the Mexican Ministry of Tourism: « They wish to support the Grand Prix that will replace Valencia, » says Jose Maria Rubio, journalist for Marca.

Several projects had been mentioned in recent years, notably in Cancún and Guadalajara, where Sergio Pérez is from. However, it is in Mexico City, on the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, that Formula One could make its return since, according to Marca, Mexico has been offered a five-year contract by Bernie Ecclestone, provided that investments are made to bring the facilities up to the current standards of the discipline. The rehabilitation of the circuit should begin as soon as the [presidential and legislative] elections are over [in July]. Everything should be ready for the race by the middle of next year, » specifies Jose Maria Rubio.

It was in 1963 that Formula One first set foot in the heart of Mexico on a track, laid out in a park and 5 kilometers long, built for the occasion. Ricardo Rodriguez had just made a notable debut in Formula One with Ferrari, but would perish during the Mexican Grand Prix, held as a non-championship race, in 1962.

Mexico was thus going to host the world championship every year at the end of the season, without Pedro Rodriguez, Ricardo’s brother, winning it, even though he had claimed his first victory in the premier discipline at the 1967 South African Grand Prix. However, popular success would first jeopardize the future of the Grand Prix as the governing bodies believed the organization offered no guarantees to prevent the crowd from invading the track.

In July 1972, after losing its Grand Prix, Mexico was also about to lose its local hero, Pedro Rodriguez, who died during a sports car race at the Norisring in Germany. It is in tribute to Pedro and Ricardo Rodriguez that the Mexico circuit is now named the Hermanos Rodriguez: the Brothers Rodriguez circuit.

Mexico, however, is quick to make its return to the international motorsport scene, initially through the CART championship, which visits the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit starting in 1980. In 1985, the return of the Mexican event to the Formula One calendar is discussed and materializes in 1986, thanks to the efforts of brothers José and Julian Abed, who modernize the circuit, now measuring only 4.4 kilometers. Bumpy, the track is nonetheless appreciated, particularly for the challenge posed by the Peraltada, a 180° curve, with the Mexican circuit incorporating a speed ring partly utilized by Formula One cars. Situated at over 2,000 meters above sea level, the Mexican track also presents a real technical challenge for engineers. However, accidents are frequent and spectacular: Derek Warwick in 1987, Philippe Alliot the following year, Ayrton Senna in 1991. In 1992, Nigel Mansell wins what remains to this day the last Mexican Formula One Grand Prix, as the invasion of the track by spectators during the race had sealed the fate of the event.

Once again through the CART Championship, the Mexican event made its return in 2002, under the ChampCar era, with a revised and corrected circuit, incorporating the baseball stadium located inside the speed oval, which, in the eyes of some, distorted the Peraltada. The Mexican circuit also hosts NASCAR races and was the host of the now-defunct A1 GP races.