Federico González Compeán: From Musician to Event Organizer
Federico González Compeán, the General Manager of the Mexico City Grand Prix (GP), reflects on his journey from a mediocre bass player to an event organizer. His decision to leave music and engineering for event production has proven fruitful, as he now oversees the Mexico City GP, which has seen attendance of over 400,000 people for its three-day racing event.
From Mirage’s Bassist to GP Organizer
González Compeán admits he wasn’t the best bassist in Mirage, often forgetting song lyrics and causing frustration. Recognizing his true calling, he transitioned to event production, concerts, theater performances, and film production. His background in music and engineering has been instrumental in his success organizing the Mexico City GP.
GP’s Growth and Future Plans
In an interview with El Economista, González Compeán discussed the GP’s growth and future plans. The tenth anniversary of the event saw an attendance of 401,326 people, making it the second-highest in recent years. With Checo Pérez returning in 2026 driving a Cadillac, ticket demand is expected to be high.
Seating Capacity in 2026
When asked about expanding seating for 2026, González Compeán explained, “We can’t increase capacity significantly due to limited space. We are almost at full capacity, with little room for additional seating. At most, we might accommodate an extra 1,000 people, but no more.”
Economic Impact and Collaboration with Authorities
The Mexico City GP is among the top three Formula 1 races for economic impact, ranking between Spain and Las Vegas. From 2015 to 2024, the event has generated approximately 180 billion pesos in economic output and media exposure.
Regarding the investment required for organizing the GP, González Compeán highlighted the intangible values:
“Annually, we create around 9,435 jobs, collaborating closely with authorities led by Clara Brugada (Head of Government) and various departments such as metro, mobility, Protection Civil, C-5, Cruz Roja, and the Advisory Council. The combined efforts result in impressive figures.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What’s more challenging: playing the bass or organizing the Mexico City Grand Prix? According to González Compeán, the difference lies in recognizing his limitations as a musician and capitalizing on his strengths in event organization, logistics, production, and ticket sales.
- Will seating capacity be expanded for 2026? Due to limited space, González Compeán stated that capacity will only see a minor increase, accommodating around 1,000 more people at most.
- What is the economic impact of the Mexico City Grand Prix? The event has generated approximately 180 billion pesos in economic output and media exposure from 2015 to 2024, ranking among the top three Formula 1 races for economic impact.
