Mexico City, October 29, 2015 

FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE MÉXICO 2015®

RACE PREVIEW

BROTHERS IN ARMS AT THE AUTODROMO HERMANOS RODRIGUEZ?

México’s proud F1 history began half a century ago with the exploits of two brothers. 

This weekend the country is reborn as a Grand Prix destination. And this time two brothers-in-arms are making the headlines before the first Mexican Grand Prix of the 21st century.

Ricardo and Pedro Rodriguez both gave their lives to the sport they lived for. 

Both men would surely have been proud of Lewis Hamilton, who last Sunday became world champion for the third time.

The first corner of the race in Austin saw Hamilton at his imperious best. He started second on the grid to his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg – but by the time they came out of the first corner Hamilton was in front. He won for the 10th time this season.

So when the 20 drivers all get back to business at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday, two of them will occupy our attention – and both of them will be in silver cars. 

Lewis is champion; Mercedes would like Nico to be runner-up. Sebastian Vettel might have something to say about that. The Ferrari man is currently second, four points ahead of Rosberg, but don’t expect the man in the #44 car to do his brother-in-arms in car #6 any favors.

Rosberg would have liked to discuss his first-corner fight with Hamilton in Texas in more depth. ‘There is no need,’ Hamilton said. ‘Everyone has a right to an opinion but it doesn’t matter. I won the race.

‘Obviously we don’t want any tension in the team. I don’t really have anything to say about it but of course I’m sure we will sit down and see what Nico’s feeling and whatever emotions he has and try and dilute them and then move on.’

Did we say two drivers? Of course that should be three, because this weekend, while the Mercedes duo fight their own battle, the spotlight will surely shine on Sergio Pérez more brightly than it ever has in the Mexican’s 26-year-long life.

‘Having the opportunity of driving in my home Grand Prix is something I never thought would happen,’ says ‘Checo’. ‘It will be one of the highlights of my career and I have no doubt that this race will become a modern classic of Formula One.’

He is determined to play his own part in history this weekend, and he comes to his home race in a superb vein of form. In his fifth F1 season Pérez lies ninth in the drivers’ standings – but 49 of his 64 points have come in the last six races.

That includes his excellent podium finish in Russia two races ago, where the only drivers to beat him were Hamilton and Vettel. ‘I think there is a very good chance we can keep up the momentum,’ Pérez said at the track on Friday morning.

‘I’m looking forward to do that and try to score as many points as possible on the weekend for the team and for all the people who are coming to see me on Sunday.’

One of the most interesting aspects of Sunday’s race will be the other battles between teammates. 

Only two points separate Williams pair Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa. Romain Grosjean is leaving Lotus to join the new Haas F1 team; the Frenchman will want to beat Pastor Maldonado, who will take over as team leader next season. Alexander Rossi wants to beat Manor sidekick Will Stevens and stake a claim for a race seat next season.

Perhaps more excitingly, Toro Rosso twins Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen will continue the season-long battle that has lit up so many races already.

‘I was surprised with the amount of grandstands, especially the last sector and the entry to the stadium,’ said Sainz after walking round the circuit. ‘I think it was very special. It’s something that we don’t have yet in Formula One and it’s going to be very interesting.

‘New tarmac, so new circumstances, new (tyre) degradations, new strategies. And those long straights are for sure going to create some movement in the race.’

Last word to Lewis Hamilton. ‘I’ve got some Mexican friends that I spend Christmas with, so I know the spirit of the Mexicans. If they all come out in their thousands, I think it could be one of the most amazing weekends.’

Visit and Enjoy Mexico with the FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE MEXICO 2015®.

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Contacts

Francisco Velázquez

[email protected]

(52 55) 52019089

CIE

Manuel Orvañanos

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(52 55) 63866686

Band of Insiders

About CIE

Corporacion Interamericana de Entretenimiento, S.A.B de C. V.

www.cie.com.mx 

We are the market leader in outdoors entertainment in Mexico, Colombia and Central America and one of the most outstanding participants in Latin America and worldwide entertainment industry.

Through a unique vertical integration model, and the only Access to an important network of entertainment centers, a base of advertisers formed by the main advertising investors in our market, as well as the alliances and strategic partnerships that we have established with experienced participants in global industry; we offer different world-class entertainment options, which include concerts, theater productions, sports, family and cultural events, among others to satisfy leisure and recreation needs for our audiences.

We operate an amusement and an aquatic park in Bogota, Colombia. Also, we commercialize the Banamex Center in Mexico City, one of the biggest and most important exhibition and convention venues internationally. In addition we are recognized as the foremost producer and organizer of special and corporative events in Mexico, and for operating one of the most professional contact centers recognized in the Mexican Market.

CIE is a public Company whose shares and debit securities are listed in the Mexican Stock Exchange.