Mexico could return to F1 in 2014

Mexico could return to the Formula 1 World Championship calendar according to several sources. According to *Autosport*, Bernie Ecclestone is advocating for a Formula 1 Grand Prix to be held in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, next season.

The race could take place at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, which hosted the 15 Mexican F1 Grand Prix held between 1963 and 1970, and then between 1986 and 1992. According to the British publication, the circuit might have enough time to modernize to meet the necessary standards for hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

When questioned by NBC Sports in Spa about whether discussions were underway with Mexico for 2014, Ecclestone replied: “Maybe. Anything is possible with me, you must know that.” The FOM boss was more talkative with Autoweek: “I should know within a few weeks about Mexico. I’m trying to make it happen.”

The Grand Prix is reportedly already funded, particularly thanks to the support of OCESA – which manages the Autodrome Hermanos Rodriguez – and Carlos Slim Domit – the son of Carlos Slim, the world’s richest man according to Forbes. His father also contributed to the rise of Sergio Pérez and Esteban Gutierrez, who have been in Formula 1 since 2011 and /f1/actualite/16006-les-grands-prix-disparus-les-ameriques.html, respectively.

Mexico could therefore join Austria, which will make its return in 2014, and Russia, which will host the first Formula 1 Grand Prix in its history. New Jersey is also supposed to host the Grand Prix of the Americas, but this seems compromised once again.

In 2014, with the addition of three destinations to the existing 19, the calendar would increase to 22 races, well above the maximum threshold of 20 desired by the teams. But with the absence of the Indian Grand Prix, this would bring the number down to 21. To return to 20 races, another Grand Prix would have to be removed, and it could be the South Korean one, which seems increasingly uncertain.