The 2022 occasion was marked by followers who had purchased or been given paddock entry being overenthusiastic across the drivers, and making life laborious for them as they tried to maneuver round.
For this 12 months’s race the native promoter has promised that it has labored with F1 to make sure that there are fewer individuals within the paddock, and that drivers have extra freedom to do their jobs.
The initiative has been welcomed by drivers who concede that there’s a stability to be discovered between entry for followers and the flexibility to maneuver round.
“I believe we’ve bought to understand, clearly, the Mexican followers are actually enthusiastic,” stated Perez when requested in regards to the topic by Autosport.
“However on the identical time, we have now to be sure that the drivers are comfortably going across the paddock, and I believe that that must be a pleasant stability.
“I simply need everybody to have a good time in my nation and I believe that is one thing that went over the restrict final 12 months, that hopefully this 12 months may be improved. As a result of general it is in my view the most effective reception for all of the drivers on the earth.”
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Followers ready for autographs
GPDA director George Russell stated he likes to see individuals within the paddock, whereas conceding like Perez {that a} line was crossed in Mexico final 12 months.
“I believe for me, the extra the merrier is nice,” he stated. “However on the finish of the day, we’re all right here to do a job.
“And final 12 months, we had been struggling simply to get from our engineers’ workplace to the storage with out individuals leaping on us and sticking cameras proper in our face.
“It was a little bit of a wierd atmosphere. So yeah, I am comfortable for the paddock to be packed so long as we have all bought a smart method via to get to the place we’ve bought to be.”
Haas workforce principal Guenther Steiner additionally welcomed the transfer in direction of a quieter paddock.
“Ultimately it’s essential give the followers what you owe them, as a result of we owe them one thing,” he stated. “As I at all times say, with out the followers, we would not be right here, simply to race for ourselves. Generally we tried it in motorsport, it would not work. It would not final lengthy.
“I believe the strategy final 12 months was somewhat bit, I would not name it aggressive, I might name it passionate. It will get at you, particularly the massive drivers, when impulsively, 20 individuals bounce on you, all of them simply need one thing.
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, indicators autographs for followers
“For the drivers, I believe it is intimidating, when the entire individuals get somewhat bit too near you. Hopefully they will deliver that message out, it is high-quality to ask, however don’t go too far.”
Alex Albon stated that at some venues issues come when leaving the observe by automotive.
“It is a tough one,” stated the Williams driver. “I do suppose we do must make our sport as accessible as attainable, so I do not see such a giant difficulty with individuals being within the paddock, however I do know there’s clearly limitations to it.
“To be sincere with you, I do not suppose the paddock has been that dangerous. For me it is extra been sort of simply getting out of the paddock.
“Generally you permit the paddock and nearly run over individuals’s toes as a result of they’re all coming as much as your home windows. That stuff is perhaps somewhat bit extra contact and go, with the paddock I’m not too fearful about it.”