I flew to Mexico City for one day.

Okay that’s not strictly true, I was there for a week. Sorry for the clickbait title but there is SOME truth to it. Technically yes I was only required to be in Mexico for one day of work. Saturday 14th Jan was the first round of the new 3rd generation FIA Formula E season. This is exciting on multiple levels since the series is almost having a clean sweep for 2023 with changes to the cars, powertrains, rules, format, and crucially for me, tires. Hankook are taking over from Michelin as the sole tire supplier for the grid. I’m doing some work for Hankook this year, helping document its new title partnership with the electric racing series. Formula E is somewhat unique in that it's the only motorsport World Championship which has the entire event format staged on one day; free practice, qualifying, and the race. Hence my flying in for one day only. Maybe it’s fitting at this point to say how crazy cool it is to be doing trips like this for work. I write about it quite nonchalantly, partly to help me process the coolness of it, partly because it’s business, and business MUST always be stern and serious. Wink wink.

In all honesty, I am very aware of the immensely privileged position I’m in to be doing this kind of work and to be absolutely loving doing it. I still struggle to make sense of it and am so excited for all that’s to come this year! Equally, while the experiences of new places and cultures is incredible, its not all as glamorous as it sounds or looks on social media. Not complaining, just stating.

In terms of the day’s work, it was quite a whirlwind. We arrived at the track at 06:30 in the morning, got our bearings with where everything was located (media centre, Hankook stand, pitlane access etc.) and went straight to work beginning to shoot the behind-the-scenes of the event from a Hankook perspective. The general routine is plan - shoot - edit - deliver - repeat; I do this multiple times in one day, so that pressure is on. Thankfully I have decent experience of these fast turnover times from all of last season. The vibe at the track and in the paddock was incredible. The Mexican fans truly bring an energy and excitement that permeates the paddock. And then there’s that famous stadium section of the track; it’s a sight to behold and makes for a great spectacle and photos. Seeing it all for real was fantastic and sits vividly in my memory.

As soon as it was clear I would be travelling to Mexico at all (my first time to any of the Americas) I figured I had to extend my stay a little bit, partly because jet lag for one day in Mexico and then back would just be unfathomable for my brain and body, and because when someone else is paying for your flight there, you don’t let that situation pass you by. I knew I was pretty keen on getting to a beach, and thankfully return flights to the coastal hotspot of Cancun were pretty inexpensive. So, a flight, a couple of busses, and a ferry later I was on a tiny little island in the Gulf of Mexico called Holbox. It’s fair to say I was quite overwhelmed with excitement and with the spirit of adventure, traveling through the ‘big wide world, figuring out who I am and why I’m there’. But then you stumble into countless other European backpackers and quickly realise you’re not quite as far away from everything as you thought, haha.

Rural Mexico is just so so pretty. Never has it been so vividly clear to me how much the vegetation of a place changes how it feels and how you perceive it. And this island is quite sight; very much under construction and with distinct lack of tar roads or cars, which is great. 4x4 golf karts and single-speed bicycles are the mode of transport on the island, though it’s so small neither of those are necessary. There is such a plethora of restaurants, street food vendors, cafes, bars, and beach clubs that it’s actually really difficult to choose where to eat or what to see. There’re enough different places to eat to choose a new one for many months it feels like. The crystal gulf water was a real treat, and I spent many hours wading through taking photos and swimming with the myriad of marine life in the shallows. I really had a great time by myself and with some hostel friends I met along the way, and trying to improve my very limited Spanish was good fun. What I loved is that for the first time in my life, every single local person who needed to say my name out loud for whatever reason said it bang-on perfectly from the very first time - what a JOY to hear!

If this trip is anything to go by, the rest of the FE season should be a total hoot. I’m very excited!

Muchas gracias, Mexico.