Maria Jose Guevara Ibarra—or Majo to her friends—is a Mexican law student currently balancing long hours at a trademark law firm with an intense passion for motorsports. "I love reading the law, but one of my favorite hobbies and ways to unwind after my head has been down in a legal text is watching Formula 1," Majo told me as she fought back laughter. While legal documents pack her workday schedule, Formula 1 completely fills her free time.
As a treat, Majo and her parents attend one F1 Grand Prix a year—a tradition that has now brought their family tally to four races around the globe, including Silverstone and Las Vegas. When picking a race in 2025 that fit around her rigid schedule, staying local in Mexico City was an easy decision. "We had been to Grands Prix before, so we thought it was only fitting to go to the Mexican Grand Prix as it has been described as notoriously really fun. Plus it helps that it’s close!" Majo explained.
With the race decided, Majo and her family secured their tickets for Grandstand 15 (Grada 15) in the Brown (Café) Zone. I caught up with Majo to learn what her and her parents thought of their weekend at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, and what tips they had for F1 fans like you that are planning their own Mexico City race weekend.
What Was Majo’s Weekend at the Mexican Grand Prix Actually Like?
Because of her weekday work commitments, Majo opted to skip Friday’s practice sessions and kicked off her race weekend on Saturday. To bypass Mexico City’s notoriously chaotic race traffic, Majo and her family relied on a private driver to handle track drop-offs and pick-ups.
Inside the circuit, the family settled into Grandstand 15, located in the iconic Foro Sol section—now known as the GNP Seguros Stadium—in the Brown Zone. Positioned along Turns 13 through 15, this famous section features tight, winding turns where F1 cars slow down enough for fans to get an unobstructed look as drivers race—and even overtake—each other. It’s also where the post-race podium celebration takes place.
“You’re right in the middle of it all,” Majo said, and that’s exactly where her family wanted to be.
When buying tickets in this section, Majo’s single biggest warning is that shade is a luxury. Only the highest rows of Grandstand 15 offer roof coverage to protect against the scorching sun or threat of rain. Lower seats in the grandstand put you closer to the track action but leave you completely exposed to the elements. Many fans ended up crowding in hallways near the restrooms or heading down to the central garden plaza (more on that in a minute) just to find a few minutes of shelter.
Rather than staying glued to their bleacher-style seats, Majo and her parents spent downtime between sessions in the central garden plaza, the open-air fan entertainment area for this zone situated at track-level. The plaza had live music, food stalls, and shaded picnic tables with umbrellas which were reserved on a first-come, first served basis.
All food and beverage purchases were managed using Digicash by Banamex, a reloadable card on a wearable lanyard usable only during the race weekend. Majo’s family loaded $115 USD ($2,000 Mexican pesos) onto their card but didn't come close to exhausting it. "You just tap it like an arcade card," Majo said. "I just got water and chips, and my parents got Heineken 0.0% beer."
What Were the Stand-Out Moments—and Surprises—From Majo’s Race Weekend?
Majo’s Mexican Grand Prix weekend delivered a mix of unexpected international energy and unforgettable family highlights. She went into the weekend expecting a predominantly local crowd, but was pleasantly surprised by the international presence."There was a really cute group of Dutch people wearing orange suits, and everyone was taking pictures with them," she recalled.
Another major standout was watching the post-race track invasion. Because Majo could see the podium from her seats, she opted to stay put instead of rushing the track. After the checkered flag, “they open the doors and everyone just starts running like crazy toward the podium under floating balloons—it's such a cool environment."
But Majo’s absolute favorite highlight was a personal one: beyond sharing F1 excitement with her dad,
Majo got to see her typically health-conscious Mom let loose, “my mom is a huge almond mom," Majo joked. "But at events like this, she drops that character completely. She was like, 'Let's buy stuff! Get your burger, get your chips!' Seeing her just let loose was the best part."
How Much Did It Cost, and Was It Worth It?
At roughly $715 USD ($12,250 Mexican pesos) per ticket, attending the Mexican Grand Prix is a major financial commitment, but Majo considered the investment 100% worth it for two intense days watching her favorite sport in the world from such a prime vantage point. Add in the energetic atmosphere and priceless moments with her family, and Majo rated her Mexican Grand Prix weekend 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Her sole disappointment? The venue's general lack of shade, something you can work around if you don’t mind staking your claim to a picnic table or standing in a hallway from time to time.
Want to know more about the Mexican Grand Prix? Check out our other guides here! Or for guides and tickets for any F1 race, head to our Formula 1 hub.
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