Mexico City hosted its first Formula One grand prix for 23 years Sunday but it was a Tapatio who was the toast of the town.

Huge, enthusiastic crowds flocked to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez to welcome F1 back to Mexico and cheer on Guadalajara native and Force India driver Sergio “Checo” Perez, who was in confident mood, having finished on the podium two weeks ago in China.

Unfortunately, Perez only managed 8th place in a race dominated by the Mercedes cars driven by winner Nico Rosberg and world champion Lewis Hamilton, who finished second.

Nonetheless, Perez could only marvel at the passion of the 335,000 fans who turned up for the practice, qualifying and race days.  His car was cheered every time he passed in front of the grandstands, and he was greeted by a deafening roar when he overtook a competitor right in front of the biggest section of the crowd.

“This is something I will remember for the rest of my life,” he told the media after the race. 

Even though the race was a bit of a let down, the occasion certainly was not. Massive, voluble crowds packed the grandstands and provided an atmosphere that is absent at many of FI’s sterile tracks, especially at the “newer” ones that have recently joined the tour in the Middle East and Asia. 

The drivers were thrilled at the efficient organization, and the euphoria of the fans. 

“They’re like a soccer crowd. I’ve never seen anything like it at a Formula One race. It’s amazing,” Hamilton told reporters.

Perez blamed his disappointing finish on a series of factors, but mostly a tire strategy that did not pan out and left him on old tires when the drivers in front of him had fresh ones. 

Mexico’s F1 fans should be even more fired up for next year’s race, after learning that Mexico’s Esteban Gutierrez will be returning to F1 in 2016 with the new Haas team. With two racers to cheer, the noise will go through the roof!