Perez wants to see more 'character' in modern tracks

Sergio Perez says that Formula 1 should make sure that the modern tracks they race on still have the same 'character' as the sport's iconic venues such as Spa-Francorchamps and Monza.

His comments come as the sport is undergoing rapid expansion, with more circuits bidding to hold a Grand Prix than there are spots available on the calendar leading many to fear that older tracks could be forced to make way.

Among the new races are the Saudi Arabia GP at the newly-built Jeddah Corniche Circuit which made its bow at the end of last season, while this year will see races in Miami and Qatar added to the schedule.

Next year will see F1 return to Las Vegas in a third US-based event. But with the current Concorde Agreement limiting the maximum number of races per year to 25, there are fears that favourite venues may miss out.

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"It’s great that Formula 1 is growing so much in another continent," Perez told the media including Motorsportweek.com last week. "It’s a great opportunity for Formula 1, for the sport. I think we're all going to benefit.

"But at the same time it would be good to keep the history within the sport," the Red Bull driver cautioned. "We need those historic tracks to always be with us.

"We have to make sure that when we go to new venues, to really have some character on the tracks," he argued. “I felt like some of the new tracks kind of lack a bit of character, so that will be very important.”

Perez' counterpart at Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, has suggested a 'rotating' calendar to maximise the number of host cities while keeping within the existing top limit of events per year.

"There needs to be a limit for the number of races that we keep adding, so in the end some other races are going to pay the price of having to stay out," he explained last week.

Like Perez, Sainz said he was "a big fan of having to go to Miami and Vegas" but worried that it would be "a big loss having to lose classic European races" as a result.

"Hopefully we can find a compromise where maybe races that cannot afford to be in the calendar every year - year-in, year-out - can be in the calendar once every two years, once every three years and we keep coming back to the places that we’ve always been."

Hailing from Mexico, Perez arguably gains the most from there being three races in the US, with Austin, Miami and now Las Vegas giving his fans plenty of choices of where to come and support him on top of his home race in Mexico City.

“Formula 1 is becoming a bit more American, so definitely a bit closer to Mexico,” he acknowledged. “I might end up living finally at home!

"It’s great to see how the sport is growing so much in the States, in all America," he insisted. "Vegas is going to be a fantastic opportunity for the sport and for the fans to see the cars

"I just think it’s a great combination: F1 with Vegas, it’s fantastic.”

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