Mexico City, Mex. – Recent tragic events in Mexico mean there is a double challenge for Formula 1 this weekend: to find the new world champion but also to play its part in bringing some positive feelings back to the country and the people who love their Grand Prix racing.

Not surprisingly, a Spaniard expresses it best. Two-time world champion Fernand Alonso has a special message this weekend: ‘It’s very important that we head to Mexico with everybody in our thoughts that has been affected by the recent earthquake, and show them as much support as we possibly can at this really difficult time,’ says the McLaren man.

‘The welcome we receive in Mexico City is among the best in the world – you can really feel the warmth of the fans all around the circuit, especially in the arena section, and the support is unbelievable. For me, it’s nice to be able to arrive in a country, travel to the hotel and check in using my own language! But seriously, I love Mexico and the Mexican people, and I hope we can put on the show they deserve.’

Those sentiments are echoed by one of the Latin-American drivers on the grid, Brazil’s Felipe Massa. ‘First of all, it’s a shame to see what’s happened, it’s so sad to see the people losing their lives and also their homes from the earthquake so that’s really, really sad,’ says the Williams veteran. ‘I think we need to help them and get as much support for them. We need to pass the message to people around the world. That is the most important thing.’

But Massa is also aware of Mexico’s marvelous racing heritage. ‘Secondly, they are really in love with Formula One and they go crazy for the race,’ he adds. ‘When you see the people in the grandstand and around the roads, they are proper Formula One fans and I think it’s fantastic to race there. I always enjoy it, I go with some friends, my father and we always enjoy the atmosphere there. It looks very similar to São Paolo so you also feel at home. I really hope we can have an important race for them in this difficult moment.’

Preparing for just his second race with his new team Renault, another Spaniard shares the excitement. ‘You get a good feeling for the atmosphere on the track parade, especially when you say “Hi” to more than 200,000 people, which is pretty special,’ says Carlos Sainz.

‘You really see the passion of the fans and their love for Formula 1; it’s really cool and a great race on the calendar. As a driver, we love seeing this passion and you know it will be a special weekend. The stadium is really cool, but even away from that section the grandstands are always packed!’

But no-one out there will be more emotional than Mexican’s own Sergio Pérez. ‘Racing at home means a lot for me,’ Checo admits. ‘It’s always a busy week, both for me and the team, but being at home makes all the hard work we put in for our fans and our partners worthwhile. It’s definitely the most enjoyable weekend of the year for me. It’s a great race for everyone involved in Formula One. There’s so much passion and the whole week is a big celebration.’

For the drivers, of course, the key feature is the track – and Checo loves that too. ‘The track is quite fun to drive and being on those long straights is special,’ he says. ‘Because of the altitude, even though you’re running high wings, you still achieve very high speeds and it’s really hard to stop the car under braking – in that sense it feels like a bit like Monza.

‘I am lucky I get to race in my country in front of my fans. Their support means so much to me and it’s inspiring to see fans waving the Mexican flag in every grandstand. I really want to give them a special result to celebrate.’