Force India driver Sergio Perez says his first home race in Mexico will be the "biggest day" of his career.
The Mexican Grand Prix has returned to the F1 calendar after a 23-year absence at the modified Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Perez is the only Mexican currently driving in F1 -- Esteban Gutierrez has a reserve driver role at Ferrari -- and says it will be a special occasion regardless of the result.
"It's definitely a big dream for me to be able to race in my home country," Perez said. "It's been more than 12 years since I raced in my country, so definitely it's going to be the biggest day of my career on Sunday, because to race in front of my whole people, all my country, it's something very special.
"You know how Mexicans are. So, it's going to be the most special day of my career, no matter what result I get on Sunday. I really hope that we can have a great result and cheer all the fans that are doing the effort to come. But definitely it's just going to be a dream come true on Sunday to race in front of my crowd."
Though he admits the attention of home support brings added pressure Perez, who was just two years old when Mexico last featured in 1992, insists his focus will be no different from another race once he climbs into the cockpit.
"In terms of Sunday, I think it's very positive pressure. Obviously there is a lot of pressure but I take it as a very positive one, there will be a lot of energy, people really supporting me and what I have to do is what I do every weekend, it's focus on myself.
"Once I put the helmet on, it's time to focus on what I'm doing, I have to do the normal procedure that I do throughout the races. There are a lot of things that we have to do before the race start, before qualifying and so on. Obviously there is a lot of pressure but a very positive type of pressure and I see that it will give me a very good motivation to do well this Sunday."