Preview – Mexican Grand Prix

Round eighteen of the season sees Formula One head across the border into Mexico and the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The circuit was built in 1962, and held its first Grand Prix in October of that year, when Ricardo Rodriguez was killed in practice for the non-championship race. His brother Pedro, made his debut her the following season however retired from the race because of a suspension issue forced him to retire.

México City has a mixture of long straights and high speed corners which should play to Mercedes. The race gives some iconic images including the Foro Sol stadium, where the fans can get close to the action and give the circuit a great atmosphere. But it really comes alive when Sergio Perez drives through.

The race has always taken place here, the original circuit featured a 180 degree,  lightly banked and fast Peraltada corner that finishes the lap, in addition to being a bumpy racetrack from actively shifting soils beneath the circuit.  However, one thing that remains is the elevation of 2,285 m (7,500 ft); the thin air causes difficulties for both the drivers and their cars.

This makes Mexico challenge for the cars as there is less oxygen for them. With the higher downforce and faster cars this season, lap times and records could be broken this weekend. This circuit is going to favour Mercedes, and if Lewis Hamilton does not seal the title in Austin, it is expected that he will in Mexico.

Facts and figure

Race	FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE MÉXICO 2017
Venue	F1 Grand Prix Circuit 2015, Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City
Circuit Length	4.304 km (2.674 mi)
Laps	71
Race Distance	305.541 km (189.854 mi)
Lap Record	1:20.521 (Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 2015, FIA Formula One)
Most wins drivers	Jim Clark (3)
Most wins manufacture	Lotus (4)

Event timetable

Note – Clock change in UK, BST to GMT on Saturday Night

what happened in 2016?

Lewis Hamilton took the win to keep his hopes of a fourth world title alive as team-mate Nico Rosberg finished second. But the main row was about who was third after a on track dispute between Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel. Vettel accused the Red Bull of blocking him, he failed to make the move growing frustrated he repeatedly swore at  race director Charlie Whiting for not allowing him passed.

In the end both drivers were awarded penalties, Verstappen for his blocking of Vettel and Vettel for his conduct during the race. That promoted Daniel Ricciardo to third. Mexican’s Sergio Perez took the final point for Force India and Haas’s Esteban Gutierrez finished nineteenth ahead of teammate Romain Grosjean.

Full Race Report Full Result Google Collection

2015 vs 2016 Race Data

A lap of the  Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez

Lewis Hamilton starts his lap by crossing the line he is already in eighth gear as he speeds along the long straight. He is in eighth gear and reaches 360kph, before breaking about a 150m before Turn One. He hits the apex before crossing the circuit into Two in third gear at 105kph, staying at that speed for Three. Opens the car up aided by DRS and goes into eighth gear on his run down to Four.

He breaks as he enters sector two going to the outside of the circuit, taking the corner at 87kph before crossing into Five which he takes the apex and runs to the outside. Breaks again into Six, opens up the car before slightly easing off for Seven. Hits the apex before running to the apex of Eight stays on the breaks through Nine eases of as he enters Ten. Hits apex and runs to the inside runs along towards the entry to the stadium.

He breaks down to 116kph brief going to the outside of the circuit crosses  back to the inside as he gets down to 63kph at the apex. Gets a bit of speed on his way through fourteen and then breaks exiting the stadium taking fifteen and sixteen in third before opening up the car through the last corner doing 01:18.704.

Tyres