Mexicans Perez, Gutierrez, expect 2014 home race

Sep.6 (GMM) Sergio Perez insists there is a "very good chance" formula one will return to his native Mexico next year as scheduled.

Mexico has a provisional date on the draft calendar distributed to team bosses at Monza on Thursday, even though most insiders expect the final number of races to drop from 21 to 20.

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, having last held a grand prix in 1992, is currently not up to F1 standard.

McLaren driver Perez, however, recently travelled to the venue to watch his brother Antonio race in the country's Nascar series.

And a big supporter of his career, billionaire backer Carlos Slim, is reportedly heavily involved in the new Mexican grand prix project.

Referring to the out-of-date Mexico City circuit, Perez said at Monza: "Obviously they need to rebuild it but there is time enough.

"They have to change the pits to make them proper for formula one, (improve) a few corners maybe, but I think they don't have to do big things for the track to be ready," he added.

F1's other Mexican, Sauber rookie Esteban Gutierrez, is also hopeful he will have a home race next November.

"I do not have much information," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace, "but I don't believe the circuit has to change too much.

"I raced there in 2008 in formula BMW, and definitely it will have to be adapted for formula one, but I believe it can be," added Gutierrez.