Mexico expects another Grand Prix bonanza

Mexico City: The Mexican Formula One Grand Prix looks likely to match if not exceed the 2015 event in economic benefits, the Central American nation’s tourism secretary has said.

“I am satisfied if it’s as successful as last year, because there were 336,174 fans last year,” including 134,850 on race day, minister Enrique de la Madrid said during a press conference on Thursday with Alejandro Soberon, head of race organising group CIE.

The three-day event began with a free practice on Friday, to be followed by qualifying runs and then the actual competition on Sunday.

The 2015 Mexican Grand Prix at the Hermanos Rodriguez track was the most successful event of the Formula One season and boosted occupancy rates at capital-area hotels to nearly 100 per cent, Soberon claimed.

The 2016 edition is expected to attract some 62,000 international visitors, De la Madrid said.

“The year 2015 was an extraordinary year for Formula One in Mexico and for 2016, all the tickets are sold,” Soberon said on Thursday.

“We expect (financial) results similar to those of last year. There is a 25 per cent increase in requests for press accreditation.”

Turning to the race competition, Soberon highlighted the performance this season of seventh-ranked Mexican driver Sergio “Checo” Perez, who has lifted his Force India team into a battle with Williams for the fourth place in the team championship.

Team Mercedes AMG Petronas clinched the 2016 team title earlier this month when the team’s star drivers, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, finished first and third, respectively, in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has decided to cut back on his use of Red Bull’s team radio because he is worried that his comments make him sound arrogant.

The Dutch teenager told reporters on Thursday that he felt his dialogue with the team was a target for the media who always wanted to broadcast him.

He said he was sensitive to this especially following last weekend’s United States Grand Prix during which he was heard to say “I’m not here to finish fourth.”

Two of his rivals, Romain Grosjean of Haas and two-time champion Fernando Alonso of McLaren-Honda have made similar complaints, saying they feel their messages are targeted specifically for broadcasts.

“All the time when I press my radio button, it’s broadcast, and sometimes it sounds a bit arrogant — especially ‘I’m not here to finish fourth’,” said Verstappen.

“But that’s just what comes up in my mind. I’m not there to finish fourth — I’m there to win, as a racer. And on the radio it sounds like I’m arrogant and not listening to the team, but that’s not my message to the team.

“It’s better to say ‘yes, no and OK, for now. Some do love it, some don’t, so it’s better I don’t say anything so you have no discussions.”

Verstappen, 19, spoke out ahead of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix and added that he felt satisfied in general with his current results and approach to racing.

— IANS