Formula 1 has confirmed that the Mexican Grand Prix will remain on the calendar into the 2020s after a new multi-year deal was reached.
Mexico’s renewal was widely expected for several months, with the city’s mayor revealing on Wednesday that a new deal was to be signed, ahead of the announcement today (Thursday).
The extension confirms Mexico’s place on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2022, with the event to be privately funded, following the withdrawal of public money.
That had threatened the future of an event which has been among the best attended and most popular on the calendar since it returned in 2015, boosted by the presence of local hero Sergio Perez.
The event will continue to be held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
"We are pleased to have renewed our partnership with Mexico City, which will now host the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix until at least 2022," said F1 chief Chase Carey.
"Ever since it returned to the championship calendar in 2015, this event has always proved to be amazingly popular with the public and fans, not just in Mexico, but also around the world.
"Proof of this is the fact that the race promoter has won the FIA award for the best event no fewer than four years in a row and, in those four years, over 1.3 million spectators have attended the Grand Prix.
"The Grand Prix has also been an important economic driver for the city, reinforcing its credentials as a centre for tourism.
"I would like to thank the Mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and the entire government of Mexico City for all their efforts in ensuring that Formula 1 continues in Mexico and I look forward to seeing another big crowd of fans at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez from 25 to 27 October for the Formula 1 Gran Premio de Mexico 2019."
Mexico has formed a double-header with the United States since its return and in both 2017 and 2018 was the event at which Lewis Hamilton secured the world title.
Mexico joins Britain in receiving a new multi-year deal beyond 2019, while Italy has reached an agreement in principle with Liberty Media, and Spain is set to stay for 2020.
It means Formula 1 is set to expand to a record-breaking 22-event calendar next year, with teams having agreed at last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix to approve the additional grand prix.
Vietnam (in April) and the Netherlands (in May) will join the roster, while Germany – following its stay of execution for 2019 – is set to drop from the schedule.
Formula 1 continues to hold discussions with Miami over a grand prix in the city though that will not take place until 2021 at the earliest.
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