Wednesday
Depart for Mexico Metropolis from San Antonio a day later than scheduled after my flight is cancelled. This performs havoc with lodge reservations because it means a further day in Texas and shortening my Mexico Metropolis go to. Right here’s a pointer to how inns rip rings out of costs at F1 time: Truncating my two-day keep – reserved at £200 after I booked early – price an ADDITIONAL £200 (for at some point) as they view modified bookings as new offers!
Thursday
Arrive at circuit and shortly realise that the Mexico Grand Prix all of us liked pre-Covid is again: The place earlier than the pandemic the paddock supplied quite a few aspect actions together with a barber store and Jimmy Paintz, a avenue/clothes artist, 2020’s race was cancelled and final yr’s paddock devoid of such enjoyable facilities. This yr they have been, although, again – Jimmy gives to embellish my cap and duly delivers!
Thereafter it’s time for driver press conferences and I’ve enjoyable with George Russell: In Austin, after his collision with Carlos Sainz he implied on the radio that he had been changed into, but throughout the post-race media session he mentioned he had apologised to the Spaniard. I requested him to clarify the distinction, to which he replied he would accomplish that in Mexico Metropolis.
The underside line is George admits to being disingenuous lest the stewards investigated the accident: “I’m not going to confess I’m improper on the radio…however will apologise afterwards,” he explains, within the course of offering an perception into the thoughts of a race driver.
Thursday night means Welcome Celebration time, with the theme being the Nineteen Sixties because the Mexican Grand Prix is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary as a tribute to the fearsomely (and fearlessly) quick Rodriguez brothers – Pedro and Ricardo – each of whom paid the final word value for his or her love of pace. Certainly, replicas of their helmets are displayed within the media centre, to be offered on Saturday as Pole Place Award.
To create authenticity on the occasion the promoter supplies a variety of us with 60s gear – I’m given a trendy denim jacket – whereas the meals is one of the best Tex-Mex possible. It’s touches resembling these that make your complete weekend a merely great expertise. It’s only a pity we have to work whereas there…
Friday
The FIA proclaims the result of its Finances Cap evaluations, discovering that Purple Bull Racing dedicated an $1,8m overspend and a procedural breach – and is fined $7m plus a ten% discount in aero testing – whereas Aston Martin is responsible of the latter transgression solely ($450,000). Crucially, the FIA discovered RBR’s overspend was not wilful. Having revealed the background to the Purple Bull’s breaches final week none of that is stunning.
Round two hours later Purple Bull boss Christian Horner hosts a press convention through which he robustly outlines that the purified overspend quantities to $400,000 in spite of everything variances are defined. After all, some looking out questions have been requested by the media, and, most amusingly, Sky’s representatives search solutions to questions they apparently don’t perceive, or they only fumbled it. They’re given brief shrift.
After the convention I wander the paddock and decide up two snippets that will (or not) eventuate: American Specific will be a part of F1 as a industrial accomplice in 2023, and Daniel Ricciardo – out of a drive for subsequent yr after being minimize unfastened by McLaren – has signed a third driver take care of Mercedes with race choices. The Australian later denies this to be the case however is presumably simply being cagey in greatest F1 custom.
Yuki Tsunoda’s post-FP2 media session is canned – as a consequence of overcrowding, elevating questions in regards to the variety of passes issued by F1 to groups and (paying) company. I’ve by no means recognized a paddock to be crammed by so many people with gold VIP passes, and I’m advised F1’s premium expertise contractor did roaring commerce with paddock visits hosted by so-called ‘Professional Hosts’. I’m wondering what number of autographs will find yourself on eBay to assist defray prices…
The night ends with a gaggle media go to to a lucha libre contest – successfully Mexico’s equal of WWF – and judging from the pack crowd within the stadium it is a extremely popular native sport.
Half two of Dieter’s Diary from Mexico shall be dwell tomorrow morning, the place he discusses the foundations of the Ricciardo rumours, extra paddock overcrowding points and Purple Bull’s exceptional choice to show down Sky interviews…