Sergio Perez's hopes for Mexican GP future on the rise

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Last month, Sergio Perez offered a dim outlook on the future of the Mexican Grand Prix but the Racing Point driver is now "more optimistic" about the prospects of his home race.

Mexico City has yet to secure its slot on the 2020 calendar, with its chances of extending its agreement with F1 taking a turn for the worse earlier this year when Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that the race would no longer receive state and government funding.

Perez admitted back then that the future of the event "isn't looking good", insisting that its demise would deal a major blow to the country.

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Since however, the Racing Point driver believes that negotiations in the wings have revived his hopes of seeing F1 return to Mexico in the future.

"It’s looking a bit more promising lately," Perez told Motorsport Week.

"I really hope that for Formula 1 that we don’t lose such a big venue, it’s been the best Grand Prix in the last four years and I hope we get to see the Grand Prix more often in the calendar.

"Also for my country I think we need Formula 1 because it’s a great exposure, it really shows how great is Mexico as a country, so I’m optimistic so I’m more optimistic than I used to be.

"There are some talks, I obviously don’t have the full details and it’s not my job to really comment on that. It’s just that things probably aren’t as bad as they were so there might be some hope."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.