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Lewis Hamilton still has to pinch himself to believe he is a three times Formula One world champion and a surreal afternoon in Mexico will give him further cause to question reality.
The Briton, who wrapped up his third title in Austin on Sunday, was serenaded by a Mariachi band, played table football in a wrestling ring with a masked fighter and was handed a beaded skull as a gift on Wednesday.
He had arrived at the Arena Mexico, the venerable home of Lucha Libre wrestling and boxing venue for the 1968 Olympics, to be serenaded on stage to the strains of 'Cielito Lindo'.
Handed an oversized sombrero, which he declined to wear, the champion was then invited to play table football inside the ring against the renowned 'Místico', a masked 'luchador' in a shimmering cape.
Mexican national team striker Oribe Peralta joined in the fun, declaring the match to be his side América versus Hamilton's favorite club, Arsenal.
After an exhibition fight, Hamilton stepped into the ring and threw himself sideways through the air at 'Místico', who collapsed theatrically to the canvas and conceded defeat.
Hamilton was then presented with a skull -- Sunday's Mexican Grand Prix coinciding with Mexico's 'Day of the Dead' holiday -- and posed with it like a pensive Hamlet as photographers snapped away.
"I’ve seen this on TV, in movies, but to actually be there and be in the ring is really cool," he said.
"They were talking about just doing a very simple maneuver but I wanted to really do it. Hopefully you were kind of impressed by my wrestling moves," he grinned. "Maybe when I retire I’ll come back."
After telling reporters that he loved tacos and his favorite movie was 'Man on Fire', an action thriller set in Mexico City and starring Denzel Washington, Hamilton turned his thoughts to Sunday's race.
"I'm here to have some fun this weekend," the Briton told Reuters in an interview on his first day in Mexico. "I've been having fun all year and it's going to be a little more of a relaxed weekend but this is the first Mexican Grand Prix for 23 years so I want to win it."
The grand prix will be the first in Mexico since 1992 and an unknown for all the current crop of drivers.
"From the simulator, it looks fantastic. However it is very, very tricky and not just another track, because we’re very high it’s hugely demanding for us with the downforce and thin air. It’s going to be physically probably one of the toughest races," Hamilton added.
