No threat to Mexican GP after earthquake

The Mexican Grand Prix will go ahead as planned after the circuit in Mexico City escaped damage during this week's earthquake.

Hundreds of people are known to have died in an earthquake that struck close to Mexico City on Tuesday, with buildings collapsing across the city. This year's Formula 1 race is due to take place in five weeks' time, but Mexican Grand Prix director of marketing Rodrigo Sanchez says the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez did not suffer damage.

Related Stories

"It's a relatively new circuit," Sanchez told reporters. "In Mexico all the new structures are built with that purpose because the chances [of an earthquake] are very high. It's been inspected twice already, from the track surface and also the buildings, and it's OK. So we'll continue doing the assessments as we go but so far there's really no concern, we'll have a race.

"If things stay the same, we'll just keep doing what we're doing, keep helping. The track is fine and we just need to refocus and get the show done."

Sanchez – who was in Mexico City at the time of the quake – now believes the race can act as a source of national pride and take on added importance. Asked if he was concerned recent events would discourage fans from attending the race, Sanchez replied: "I don't think so, I think the Mexican people in times like this bring ourselves together and we know how to move on.

"Things like this, it's important to show our unity – not only to ourselves but to the world.

"Even in Austin, after the floods, [the reaction] the next year. It's times where you get to sit down and see what all of us are capable of doing. We need to remain together in the bad and the good, not only in the good.

"That's a powerful message and something we need to show and I think Mexicans are a good example of that, their pride and their energy. The same pride you see in the grandstands we are seeing in the devastation zones right now; everyone is not even sleeping, people are staying overnight just to get people out of the buildings."

And Sanchez added it is too soon to tell if there will be any changes to the way the race is promoted, as the organizers' current focus is on helping with the recovery efforts in the city.

"Right now we're trying to help as we can and trying to put out information as to how people can help, because we do need help. Aid, food, batteries, supporting the local Red Cross.... The complete city stopped and started asking people who owned motorcycles to start sending paramedics. So even casual people with motorcycles are bringing paramedics [through damaged areas].

"I think it's too early to tell [if the race promotion will change], we'll just have to see how it develops and what this becomes because it's still very 24/7. From the promoter's standpoint our commitment is with Mexico and supporting everyone that's been affected and we don't want to get in the way of anything. It's also a loss for us."