'I will not give up' – Perez's season has been tough but with huge support in Mexico he's determined to end on a high

Special ContributorJustin Hynes
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 26: Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in theMEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 26: Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 26, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

A home race is usually an occasion for a driver to wallow in the adulation of his most fervent admirers, enjoying the warm glow of security afforded by being that weekend’s most feted competitor. And there’s no event in F1 where that warm glow is quite as bright or as comforting as it is for Sergio Perez in Mexico City.

From the vast hoardings that line the Viaducto Rio de la Piedad and lead from the airport past the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez towards the centre, to copious amounts of TV ads and to the covers of celebrity gossip magazines on the racks of street corner newsstands, Checo is everywhere.