Mexican F1 driver Sergio 'Checo' Pérez, currently ranked eighth in the drivers' standings, said that the Mexican Grand Prix, happening this Sunday, is a unique race because it takes place at 2,240 meters above sea level, meaning "anything can happen."

He’s hoping it will mark the end of his rough season. "It could be a very different Grand Prix compared to the rest of the season," said the 34-year-old driver. "Anything can happen here. The altitude plays a big role," the Red Bull driver told reporters.

"The passion of the Mexican fans is incredible. Many drivers have already experienced other parts of Mexico, sometimes I even organize vacations for them to get to know my country," he added. Pérez emphasized that no other driver receives as much support from their home crowd as he does at the Mexican Grand Prix, a race his competitors also love due to the warmth of the fans.

He also presented the helmet he’ll be using on Sunday, which features a lucha libre mask in honor of one of Mexico's most famous cultural icons. He said he's mentally prepared to start climbing back up the rankings starting with the next race.

"It's been a tough year, even though it started well with four podiums. But then, everything started to go wrong. Every weekend brought a new issue, but we’re confident we can solve the problems and start being competitive again," he said.

Checo and his teammate Max Verstappen, the world champion and current leader in the standings, are looking to finish the remaining five races strong, aiming to secure another title for Max and the constructors' championship, where Red Bull is currently second with 504 points, trailing McLaren by 40 points and just 6 points ahead of Ferrari.

"I'm confident that things will start to turn around on Sunday. Everything is still open, and we can fight for the constructors' championship," he observed. Last year, Checo had an accident at the start of the Mexican Grand Prix, forcing him to retire from the race. He explained that he took a big risk in that race, chasing victory because podiums weren’t enough for him on home soil anymore.

"There’s a photo of me entering the first corner ahead. If everything had gone right, I would’ve been in a good position to try to win. My career has been better than my wildest dreams, and I’m grateful for both the victories and defeats. The only thing that could top it is winning in Mexico, and I’ll try my best," he noted.

The Guadalajara native has finished on the podium 39 times in Formula One, with six victories. This year, his performance has dropped due to car issues, but he denied any thoughts of retirement. "I'm with the best team in the world, and they just extended my contract for two more years, so I’m not going anywhere," he said.