Checo Pérez, his assistant Alice Hedworth and two bodyguards enter the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez during the Mexican Grand Prix.Mark Thompson (Getty Images)
12-year-old Marcelo Rodríguez ran as if he wanted to break the 100-meter dash record to get an autograph. The physical challenge for this boy in the Red Bull jersey was to catch up with Günther Steiner, the boss of Haas, one of the worst teams of the current season. Rodríguez’s hectic routine had a reason: “He’s a team leader, he’s from Netflix.” Steiner gained unexpected popularity thanks to a documentary series on the platform about Formula 1. Drive to Survival, launched in 2019, catapulted the sport worldwide. Mexico is no exception.
In 2022, the Mexican Grand Prix received the black flag due to the behavior of VIP fans, the most exclusive, who pay tickets for more than 100,000 pesos. On this occasion, all the drivers had to endure forced smiles, twitches, cell phones in their faces and screams from those fans who were losing their minds over a memory of Formula 1. The pilots expressed their displeasure and the organizers took note. For this year, two entrances have been set up: one that must coincide with the VIP entrance and the other that leads directly to the garages. Somehow they avoided passing a line of outstretched arms asking for an autograph on their hats. Some drivers, those with the highest reputation like Verstappen, Pérez, Sainz, Leclerc or Alonso, had security guards at their side. At every move there were bodyguards who, as soon as they saw fans, tried to cut them off.
“Of course I have a little more security here. But there are always countries in the world where there are a lot of people,” admitted the three-time world champion. “Last year a lot of people from the hospitality industry went into the workshop. “That helps make it a little quieter.” The guards put up a barrier to prevent these fans from entering the interview area with the pilots. In the hallway you could see a tour guide walking from side to side saying almost sadly: “I’m sorry, this is only for staff and press.” During qualifying, Kevin Magnussen from Haas was seen walking, accompanied by one burly man who, when asked by a fan, said with an open hand: “No! Not at the moment.” Hamilton preferred to walk to his rooms with his helmet on and a skateboard.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin driver, accompanied by security guards during the Mexican Grand Prix. RAQUEL CUNHA (Portal)
This year’s increased security screening coincided with other disastrous episodes for the people of Red Bull. Since the São Paulo GP, Mexican fans showed their displeasure with Verstappen due to a bad friendship with Checo Pérez. The champion and his family received waves of insults and death threats from the dissidents. When the Mexicans had the opportunity, they began hostilities with the Dutch, as happened in Miami and Austin this year. There have been concerns about its reception at Red Bull this year. Organizers in Mexico promoted the Racepect campaign to bring fans back to the principle of sportsmanship: knowing how to lose.
“The chaos among the fans is also the nice thing about the Mexican Grand Prix. I think that’s what defines us as Latinos, we are chaos in the best sense of the word because we have fun and through it we show our love for sports. “We are a lot of Latinos and we live this as if it is our downfall, but we have to respect the pilots a little more,” said Maira Pastor, 23, a young woman who was looking for a signature and found the pilot’s has local hero. The main roads leading to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez began to become clogged early in the day. The capital’s tourism secretariat expected more than 420,000 fans over the weekend.
“Here in VIP you see 1% of Mexico. I had only seen it in videos or on TV. It’s very cool, but I still haven’t internalized it. It’s chaotic to see fans wanting a photo even though you have to respect it. I don’t see anything wrong with pilots having bodyguards. Here people see every pilot and support them. “When they see Alonso or Checo, they go even crazier,” said Alain Zúñiga, 22, who won a Formula 1 esports tournament with four other teammates. One of his prizes was to see Alonso twice in one week. Perez. “We talked for five minutes and asked him two or three questions. He signed this hat for me and they gave us a signed hat. Yes, I imagined taking a photo with him, but meeting him, ugh, I didn’t imagine it,” he adds.
Verstappen’s car at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.RAQUEL CUNHA (Portal)
Disappointment at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
After training and qualifying, the fans treated the world champion well, without insults or boos. The stands, true to their tradition, supported all drivers. His favorite, Pérez, received the biggest ovation in the Foro Sol area, where tens of thousands wore something that referenced their pilot. Pole went to Charles Leclerc, followed by Carlos Sainz and Verstappen. However, Checo stagnated in fifth place, an ingredient that bursts the Mexicans’ hope bubble of seeing their current idol fight for the lead. The result will be seen as painful by Mexican fans after Alpha Tauri’s Daniel Ricciardo moved up to fourth at the start. The Australian began the year as Red Bull’s third driver, focusing more on commercial commitments. He replaced Nyck de Vries in the B team midway through the season and his name is now being discussed as a replacement for the Mexican after 2024.
“There is a lot to fight for. Two tenths would have completely changed our ranking,” commented Pérez after the race. Another factor is that there are limited overtaking opportunities on the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. A caramel, or maybe two, and a good start can help Jalisco’s this Sunday.
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