Sergio Perez’s Dream Hangs in the Balance After New FIA CEO Gives Unclear Update

Daniel Ricciardo wanted a race in Las Vegas. He got it. Lewis Hamilton wanted a race in Miami. He got it. Max Verstappen (probably) wanted a race in the Netherlands. He got it. As for Sergio Perez? He has a dream race, too, but the question is: will he get it? If Formula 1 can visit the US three times a year, why can’t it visit Spain twice? And going to Madrid? That’s Perez’s dream, and he has good reason to believe it’ll be the spectacle everyone wants it to be.

Following a Red Bull Showrun Perez did in Madrid earlier this year, he was convinced the Spanish capital would be great for F1. “The city is booming now in Europe and then it would be amazing to have a Formula 1 race here. I think the city is ready to host Formula 1. It would make me very happy to race here.” While it may make him happy to race in Madrid (and most likely Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso as well), is a Madrid GP even something F1 is considering?

Just Madrid’s “atmosphere” may not work in favor of Sergio Perez

Races like the US GP in Austin and the Mexican GP in Mexico City are known for their thrilling atmosphere. Although Perez getting fan support at the Mexican GP may not come as a surprise, the Mexican has a large fanbase even in Austin. Fans from Mexico come in large numbers to support their hero, and that’s the same atmosphere Madrid creates for Perez. After his Madrid Showrun, Perez said, “A lot of Latinos, a lot of Mexicans. In general, a lot of Latinos would then create an amazing atmosphere.”

Keeping Perez’s dream in mind, Spanish publication Marca interviewed FIA’s new CEO—the first CEO in the history of the FIA—Natalie Robyn. After the Audi Summit for Progress in Madrid, Marca asked her if F1 was thinking about an F1 race in the city. Robyn replied, “We still don’t know what may happen in the future. But the normal process is that the request is made to the country’s sports federation—in this case to the Spanish one.” [Translated by Google]

“From there, the necessary stages are passed. That is the approval of a circuit above all, which, as we analyze and approve in the FIA, is very important. Here, in Madrid, it is possibly an urban circuit and it is a very scrupulous process, so we’ll see,” Robyn added. Hosting an F1 race is no easy feat. The fact that the 2024 calendar has 24 races and there are venues (like Circuit Paul Ricard in France) still fighting to get back on the calendar, a completely new track’s chances wouldn’t be all that great. 

Read More: Lewis Hamilton Becomes Daniel Ricciardo’s Last Hope as Sergio Perez Receives Ultimatum

Unless F1 plans to shift the Spanish GP from Barcelona to Madrid, Perez’s dream may stay a dream for a little while longer. Even so, he has something to look forward to this weekend—F1’s official trip to Perez’s home race. 

Perez made a plea to his home crowd ahead of the Mexican GP

To be an F1 driver and to race in your home country. Few things beat that feeling. The charged and electric atmosphere created by home fans for their home heroes is unbeatable. Just ask Lewis Hamilton in Silverstone or Max Verstappen in the Netherlands. And Austria and Belgium. For Perez, it’s the Mexican GP, and as he said, his Latino fans make for a breathtaking atmosphere. That is, only for him. Last time out at the US GP, when Verstappen stood on the top step of the podium, spectators booed him. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko suspected they came from Mexican fans.

Perez hasn’t done too well compared to Verstappen this season. So, the Mexican crowd isn’t a big fan of the Dutchman. In light of the booing in Austin, Perez asked Mexican fans to refrain from doing the same in Mexico. Per an Instagram post where Perez talked to fans, the caption read, “Checo, during the press conference for the Mexican GP, ​​thanks the fans and asks the fans to be polite. He would like the fans to behave well this weekend. For him, this is important so that everyone in F1 keeps a good memory from Mexico!” 

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Would you like a Madrid GP in the future like Sergio Perez? Or is F1’s trip to Barcelona an exciting enough ordeal?