Miguel Herrera announced as interim Mexico coach

Club America boss Miguel Herrera will take charge of Mexico for the intercontinental playoff against New Zealand, but nothing is guaranteed beyond November 20.

Mexico have introduced Miguel Herrera as the new manager of their men's senior national team, but he's only guaranteed to have the job for two games, and thus will not be leaving his post at Club America. Mexican federation director Justino Compean announced that Herrera's entire staff will join him, and that he and the club presidents will reconvene following the playoff against New Zealand to decide on a full-time manager.

Also joining the national team is Club America sporting director Ricardo Pelaez, though he will also be evaluated between his appointment and November 20. Héctor González Iñárritu has been retained as the director of national teams for the time being.

The press conference was delayed by 50 minutes, reportedly due to a dispute between the club presidents. All of the owners are supposed to have a say in national team managers, but many say they were not consulted about the firing of Victor Manuel Vucetich -- who lasted just two games -- and the hiring of Herrera. The representative of the clubs owned by multi-billionaire Carlos Slim, in particular, was opposed to the coaching change.

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Sergio Perez: “Mexican Grand Prix will be huge for F1”

Sergio Perez reckons Formula 1 will be blown away by the reception it gets in his homeland if the planned Mexican Grand Prix gets the green light for 2014. After a trying first season following his move to McLaren, Sergio Perez admits that he is already looking forward to leading the team to the Mexican Grand Prix. A draft calendar circulated to teams before the Monza race had a record 21 rounds, with Mexico listed for November 9, 2014, the week before the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

Perez said: "I'm very excited. It's not confirmed yet, it's just a pre-calendar but I feel there are very big chances now of this happening. It will be great for my country, great for the sport. F1 will be amazed how popular this grand prix can become...it will be huge for F1 as a sport to go there."

Mexican businessman Carlos Slim Domit: "I believe there is potential to do more races in the Americas and I believe that Mexico is in the right spot to do it. It's a stable country, our economy is doing quite well and we have drivers people can identify with. All of the pieces are coming together and I believe the potential promoters are doing a good job in trying to secure something."

Mexico last hosted a grand prix in 1992, when Nigel Mansell triumphed for Williams en route to his world championship title. That race also took place at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which is on course to return to the calendar despite rumors that Mexico was seeking alternative venues, such as the resort of Cancun, to stage its comeback.

As expected, the Mexican race is featured towards the end of the 2014 schedule, but was listed before the USGP rather than after it was anticipated. The November 9th slot ensures a three-race swing through the Americas to end the campaign, with Brazil continuing to stage the season finale.

The Mexican reckoned a few flat-out months of work would be required to upgrade the pit and paddock facilities but the layout was good. "I know how good the racetrack is," Perez stated, "Obviously, they need to rebuild it, but there is time enough. They have to change the pits to make them proper for F1, and improve a few corners but, apart from that, it's just a matter of time what they can do. They don't have to do big things for the racetrack to be ready so I really hope - for the good of the sport and my country - that it happens."

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Carlos Slim Domit Enters Hall of Fame

Celebrated for his efforts in promoting and building the sport, Carlos Slim became part of the Hall of Fame of the Mexican Motorsport Federation (FEMADAC). When asked about the future of Formula One in Mexico, Slim reiterated that in order for Mexico to enter the F1 calendar, they must present a suitable project first. Some are hopeful Mexico will be able to get on the F1 race schedule in 2013. 

"There are many variables. It’s a big project; it has to be a national project, having a promoter that can coordinate the pieces around. Hopefully in the future we can have a Grand Prix back to Mexico," said Slim. 

Slim also participated in the unveiling of the Wall of the Carrera Panamericana in the events where he was the main protagonist and pilots Guillermo Rojas and the brand new World Rally Champion Benito Guerra attended the event as well. 

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Mexican Racing Fans Applaud Formula 1's Launch in Texas

Thousands of Mexican fans flowed into Austin for F1 and the thrill of watching Mexican driver Sergio "Checo" Pérez speed around the track. David Besch was one of them. As he waited in line to get into the Circuit of the Americas stands , Besch said F1 in Austin reminded him of the thrill of his first race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.

“I was about eight or nine years old – I think. My uncle took me to the race. From then on, I didn’t stop watching it.”

Many of the fans this weekend said they were ready to see Mexico reopen its F1 track. Recent reports say the country’s leading business owners – among them Carlos Slim Domit, the son of one of the richest men in the world – are talking are talking about getting on the F1 schedule as early as next year.

But it’s been decades since Mexico hosted a Formula 1 race. That would take updating a track that was last used in 1992 to address any safety concerns for drivers. And, reassuring travelers they would be safe from drug cartel violence.

Fan David Rojas, from Mexico City, rushed to reassure them. “In regards to the race – I don’t think there would be any problems – I mean, there’s been tourism all these years, and there’s going to be a major pursue in tourism. So, I don’t expect that to be a huge issue there.”

But until Formula 1 is revived in Mexico, the Circuit of the Americas track here in Central Texas – just 200 miles from the US-Mexico border – will have to do.

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