The show must go on, with or without its local hero
It seems that the news of the year in Mexican motorsport is that Sergio “Checo” Pérez, our beloved idol who skates off the podium, will return to Formula 1 in 2026. But not with just any team, oh no!, but with the American colossus, Cadillac. This revelation, as expected, has left Federico González, the General Director of the Mexican Grand Prix, fascinated. Fascinated? Wow, what a modest adjective. I’m sure he was also “moderately excited” when he realized that this year’s event would be almost completely sold out despite the complete absence of its main local attraction.
González, in an outburst of corporate poetry, declared: “Delighted, delighted to have this Mexican in Mexico again, to have Czechomania return again, but now in Cadillacmania.” Cadillacmania. A word that no one knew they needed until now, and that no one will probably use again. He is not satisfied with simple enthusiasm; He sees further: not only is it good for the event and for selling tickets, but it “helps for the image of Mexico in the world”. Because clearly, what a nation’s global reputation needed was for a driver to get into an American luxury car. Take note, chancelleries of the world.
The miracle of the box office: almost everything sold without the protagonist
And here is the true modern miracle, the one that the Church should study: this year’s Mexican Grand Prix is practically completely sold out. Yes, you read correctly. The event that for years has mounted part of its marketing on the figure of Checo Pérez… has been sold without Checo Pérez. González, with the modesty of a lottery winner, confessed: “This year is the one we haven’t had, but we are sold out. We do have a couple of tickets available, but we are absolutely sold out.” A couple of tickets. Those seats surely have a privileged view… of the parking lot or the back of a tire truck.
Faced with the obvious question of whether the lack of its star pilot cooled the public’s interest, the director admitted, with the delicacy of a surgeon, that they felt “a little loss, but it was not something that came back to us”. A wonderfully vague phrase that could be translated as: “Yes, some fans were angry, but not enough to ruin our Maui vacation.” He, with unwavering faith in the product, argues that burdening ‘Checo’ with the responsibility of this project would be too much. Oh! What a timely revelation. Was someone putting all the responsibility on him? Or maybe, just maybe, it was the biggest advertising magnet they had?
While Checo misses F1’s 10th anniversary party in Mexico (a celebration that, ironically, occurs in his absence), fans will have to settle for the excitement of watching… well, watching car races. Next year, they promise, the man from Guadalajara will be there, along with Valtteri Bottas and his new team. Until then, the show must go on, proving that sometimes, the event is bigger than any one driver. Or that’s what they need us to believe.
Are you surprised that the Mexican GP almost sold out without its star driver? Share this ironic look at motorsports with other fans on your social networks and discover more analysis with a touch of humor in our Sports section.
