Mexican driver Sergio 'Checo' Pérez appeared at the Silverstone circuit wearing the Mexican National Team jersey, just hours before the World Cup 2026 round of 16 match against England. Formula 1 shared the image with the message 'In enemy territory'.
The Mexican driver Sergio 'Checo' Pérez once again demonstrated that football holds a special place in his heart. Just hours before the crucial match between Mexico and England, which is for a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, the Guadalajara native showed up at the Silverstone circuit wearing the Mexican National Team jersey. The image went viral worldwide.
A gesture that did not go unnoticed
The snapshot was shared by Formula 1 on its social media. In the post, the organisers accompanied the photograph with the phrase “In enemy territory”, referring to the predominantly British atmosphere surrounding the British Grand Prix and the same World Cup match that would take place later.
Pérez appeared in one of the most iconic temples of world motorsport, where a new date on the Formula 1 calendar is being held this weekend. In that context, the Cadillac Formula 1 Team driver took the opportunity to express his support for the team led by Javier Aguirre.
This is not the first time the Guadalajara native has shown his support for the national team. Throughout his career, Checo has been seen multiple times cheering for the Tricolor and closely following Club América, a team he is known to support.
Provocation in rival territory
The presence of the Mexican in the Tri jersey was not the only moment that caused a stir over the weekend. A day before the match between Mexico and England, Sergio Pérez took the microphone during the pre-race activities of the Grand Prix and sent a direct message to the local fans.
“I just want to thank everyone here. Make sure to do everything today and tomorrow, because tomorrow night is going to be a very tough moment for many of you. It’s going to be difficult and we will try; the cup is not coming home this year,” the driver declared with a laugh.
The statement was met with applause and surprise from the English audience, before the Mexican was interrupted by the reaction of the attendees. The driver’s words went viral on social media, where fans highlighted his humour and the confidence placed in the Mexican National Team against England.
A bittersweet Sunday on the track
While his support for the Tricolor made headlines, the sporting activity was not as kind to Checo Pérez. The Cadillac driver had a challenging qualifying session at Silverstone: he was eliminated during Q1 and ended up in the twentieth position on the starting grid for the British Grand Prix.
Thus, Pérez will have to face a comeback race on one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, trying to climb positions and score points for his team in the 2026 season, which marks his return to the top tier of motorsport.
Despite the difficulties on the asphalt, the Mexican managed to become one of the most talked-about names of the day. His gesture of wearing the national colours in the heart of Silverstone symbolised the support of one of the leading figures in Mexican sport for the Tricolor team, just before one of the tournament's most important matches against England.
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