The Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix is staring down an uncertain future, with race organizers growing increasingly anxious about securing a contract extension beyond 2025. At the heart of their concern? The departure of homegrown hero Sergio Perez from Red Bull.
For nearly a decade, Checo Perez has been the heartbeat of the Mexico City GP, drawing in record-breaking crowds, igniting local passion, and solidifying the event’s place on the F1 calendar. But now, with Perez axed by Red Bull and without a confirmed 2025 seat, the event’s biggest selling point may have just disappeared.
Perez’s Struggles and Red Bull Exit: A Blow to Mexico’s F1 Dream
When Perez arrived at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez last October, he was already fighting for his future. His form had spiraled, his title hopes had evaporated, and even he admitted: “I’ve had a terrible season.”
Despite the massive 404,958 fans who packed the venue that weekend, Checo failed to deliver the redemption drive he desperately needed. The downward trend continued, and by the end of 2024, Red Bull pulled the plug—leaving Mexico’s most beloved motorsport icon without a seat at the table.
Now, the Mexico City GP faces a harsh reality: F1’s global expansion means races are constantly battling for survival, and with South Africa, Rwanda, and other locations eager to break into the calendar, the loss of a national hero could prove catastrophic.
Organizers Sound the Alarm—Can the Race Survive Without Checo?
The race’s chief promoter, Alejandro Soberon, has admitted that Perez’s absence from the grid has cast a dark cloud over their contract negotiations.
“As organizers, we are very concerned about the absence of Sergio Perez from the Formula 1 grid,” he told FormulaPassion. “However, we are trying to find a way to extend our contract with the championship.”
This is a stark shift in tone from just a year ago. Back then, Soberon was confident the race would continue, arguing that Mexico’s passion for F1 would outlast any individual driver.
“Even if it is always better to have a local idol, we are convinced that fans will still find a hero to support,” he stated optimistically in 2023.
But that was before Checo’s exit. Before it became clear that the event’s biggest attraction might not be there in 2026.
The Race Against Time: Will Mexico Survive F1’s Ruthless Calendar War?
Mexico City’s F1 contract expires in 2025, and while other races like Las Vegas are expected to lock in long-term deals, Mexico faces an uphill battle.
Without Checo, organizers must prove they can still attract massive crowds—a tough ask when neighboring countries and emerging markets are aggressively bidding for a place on the F1 schedule.
The Grand Prix has been a mainstay since 2015, but so has Perez. Now, for the first time in nearly a decade, Mexico’s motorsport future is in jeopardy.
Will the country’s unwavering passion be enough to keep the race alive? Or is the post-Perez era set to spell the end for one of F1’s most electrifying fan spectacles?
The clock is ticking, and Formula 1 is watching closely.