Mexican GP will get bigger and better, says Slim

Leading F1 figures were unified in claiming the return of the Mexican Grand Prix was a huge success, with Niki Lauda even suggesting it was the best event he had ever been to.

Slim, who has also supported the careers of Sergio Perez and Esteban Gutierrez, reckons that the triumph of last weekend's event will help spur more interest in F1, which will attract even more fans in the future.

"The people, when they live such a great experience, plus all the people that have had the chance to see it on television, it fires them on," Slim told Motorsport.com in an exclusive interview.

"It is an event that will keep growing through the next years. And hopefully, in some of those years, you will have a Mexican going to the podium – or even two Mexicans."

Triumph for Mexico

Slim said that the success of Mexico's return to the F1 calendar, after pushing for more than a decade to win a slot, was a victory for the whole country.

"It is many years – 13 years – that we started with the programme," he said. "It is 23 years since we had the last grand prix and many more years since we had Mexican drivers racing in the grand prix.

"Knowing all the sacrifices that Checo [Perez] had to do, when he was very young, all the bad seasons we had and everything that happened, and suddenly this year, accomplishing the dream we had for so many years on a road that was so bumpy, sometimes it is very special."

He added: "There has been some fantastic feedback from the teams, from the drivers, from the mechanics – particularly from Bernie saying that this has been the best grand prix in many years.

"We are very happy. Who won this weekend was the Mexican public and Mexico, because of the capacity to show to the world what we are and how great the Mexican people are."

Fuelling interesting

Slim senses that the foundations for the Mexican GP's success will be strengthened by the results of Perez and Gutierrez next year too.

"I know that Checo, whenever he had the tools, he has given the results – even sometimes in a more impressive way than what everyone expects," he said.

"He is a very mature driver already, he has a lot of consistency and I am sure the year to come will be even stronger.

"For Esteban, he will have the chance to come back to a race car and to demonstrate not only his talent, because we know that he has a lot of talent, but also his experience and all the learning he has got from Ferrari this year. I am sure he will perform a great season."