For the first time since 1992, Formula 1 will race around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico.
The circuit has been completely revamped ahead of the 17th round of the 2015 season, which follows an action-packed United States Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton stormed to his 10th win of the year and his third world title at the Circuit of the Americas. Just a few days after his championship triumph, he will be on track for the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.
The event made its F1 debut in 1963 and was run until 1970, before returning to the calendar from 1986 to 1992. Numerous revival attempts were made but it took until this year for the sport to return to Mexico.
Jim Clark, Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell are the most successful drivers in the race’s history, with two wins each. Lotus, McLaren and Williams have the most constructor victories with three. Mansell was the last driver to stand on the top step of the Mexican Grand Prix podium.
Williams continued to dominate the early stages of the 1992 season, with Mansell taking victory by 12 seconds from team-mate Riccardo Patrese. Michael Schmacher was third for Benetton. Following his success at the last F1 race at the Audodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the circuit has named the final corner after him.
All 15 previous races in Mexico have taken place at the venue, which is located in the southeast of Mexico City. It is named after the famous racing drivers Ricardo and Pedro RodrÃguez. The former died at the track shortly after it opened in a non-championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix, while his brother also lost his life behind the wheel nine years later.
The circuit has gone through a major transformation ahead of F1’s return to Mexico, under the direction of Hermann Tilke. It has 17 corners, seven left and ten right, and this is three more than the original layout had.
The famously quick Peraltada has been replaced by a twisty final section passing through a baseball stadium, while the main straight has been extended and the esses section mid-way through the lap has been significantly modified.
Despite the changes being made, the track is still a big challenge, requiring both strong top speed on the straights and aero balance through the corners. The charm and character remains, but with new, modern facilities and safety features.
A lap of the 2.674 mile circuit starts on the wide pit straight, which is one of the longest on the calendar and is where the first DRS zone will be. The pit lane complex is to the right. The first corner is a medium-speed right, which is quickly followed by a slow left-right section.
Next up is another long straight, where the second DRS zone will be positioned, before the tight left-right chicane of the fourth and fifth corners. Turn 6 is a slow, double-apex right-hand hairpin, with a short straight next up.
The re-profiled esses is a winding left-right-left-right-left section requiring a good flow and rhythm. Another burst of power follows before the heavy braking zone for Turn 12, a tough right-hander that should promote overtaking. This leads cars into the stadium section of the circuit, with a left-hand hairpin being swiftly followed by a sharp right.
Turn 15 is a barely-there kink before drivers tackle the 16th corner, which is a slow right-hander. Speed builds through the quick final corner that leads onto the pit straight, with the pit lane entry to the inside of the turn.
The track certainly boasts a whole range of challenges, from slow chicanes to hairpins, quick corners and long straights. Setting up a car looks set to be a challenge due to the varying demands and lack of experience at the venue.
Because so many changes have taken place and F1 hasn’t visited the circuit for quite some time, it is effectively a new weekend in terms of data and information for the teams and tyre supplier Pirelli. The medium and soft compounds have been nominated by Pirelli.
Mexicans are passionate about F1 and a large crowd is expected. Most will likely be cheering for Sergio Perez, who is the only driver racing on home soil. The Force India driver will be hoping his strong results continue after third in Russia and fifth in the United States.
Teams will be hoping for a straightforward Friday of practice to gather as much information and knowledge as possible. This hasn’t been the case in recent races due to rain, but it has produced great action and mixed up grids.
Mercedes has already wrapped up both world titles and the team’s dominance doesn’t look set to stop any time soon. The long straights will certainly benefit those with the Mercedes and Ferrari power units, but teams like Red Bull will probably be strong through the second sector.
Mexican Grand Prix Fact File:
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Track Length: 2.674 miles
Direction:
Clockwise
Turns: 17
Laps: 71
First race: 1963
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights BBC One)
Lewis Hamilton stormed to his 10th win of the year and his third world title at the Circuit of the Americas. Just a few days after his championship triumph, he will be on track for the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.
The event made its F1 debut in 1963 and was run until 1970, before returning to the calendar from 1986 to 1992. Numerous revival attempts were made but it took until this year for the sport to return to Mexico.
Jim Clark, Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell are the most successful drivers in the race’s history, with two wins each. Lotus, McLaren and Williams have the most constructor victories with three. Mansell was the last driver to stand on the top step of the Mexican Grand Prix podium.
Williams continued to dominate the early stages of the 1992 season, with Mansell taking victory by 12 seconds from team-mate Riccardo Patrese. Michael Schmacher was third for Benetton. Following his success at the last F1 race at the Audodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the circuit has named the final corner after him.
All 15 previous races in Mexico have taken place at the venue, which is located in the southeast of Mexico City. It is named after the famous racing drivers Ricardo and Pedro RodrÃguez. The former died at the track shortly after it opened in a non-championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix, while his brother also lost his life behind the wheel nine years later.
The circuit has gone through a major transformation ahead of F1’s return to Mexico, under the direction of Hermann Tilke. It has 17 corners, seven left and ten right, and this is three more than the original layout had.
The famously quick Peraltada has been replaced by a twisty final section passing through a baseball stadium, while the main straight has been extended and the esses section mid-way through the lap has been significantly modified.
Despite the changes being made, the track is still a big challenge, requiring both strong top speed on the straights and aero balance through the corners. The charm and character remains, but with new, modern facilities and safety features.
Next up is another long straight, where the second DRS zone will be positioned, before the tight left-right chicane of the fourth and fifth corners. Turn 6 is a slow, double-apex right-hand hairpin, with a short straight next up.
The re-profiled esses is a winding left-right-left-right-left section requiring a good flow and rhythm. Another burst of power follows before the heavy braking zone for Turn 12, a tough right-hander that should promote overtaking. This leads cars into the stadium section of the circuit, with a left-hand hairpin being swiftly followed by a sharp right.
Turn 15 is a barely-there kink before drivers tackle the 16th corner, which is a slow right-hander. Speed builds through the quick final corner that leads onto the pit straight, with the pit lane entry to the inside of the turn.
The track certainly boasts a whole range of challenges, from slow chicanes to hairpins, quick corners and long straights. Setting up a car looks set to be a challenge due to the varying demands and lack of experience at the venue.
Because so many changes have taken place and F1 hasn’t visited the circuit for quite some time, it is effectively a new weekend in terms of data and information for the teams and tyre supplier Pirelli. The medium and soft compounds have been nominated by Pirelli.
Mexicans are passionate about F1 and a large crowd is expected. Most will likely be cheering for Sergio Perez, who is the only driver racing on home soil. The Force India driver will be hoping his strong results continue after third in Russia and fifth in the United States.
Teams will be hoping for a straightforward Friday of practice to gather as much information and knowledge as possible. This hasn’t been the case in recent races due to rain, but it has produced great action and mixed up grids.
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Mercedes has already wrapped up both world titles and the team’s dominance doesn’t look set to stop any time soon. The long straights will certainly benefit those with the Mercedes and Ferrari power units, but teams like Red Bull will probably be strong through the second sector.
Mexican Grand Prix Fact File:
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Track Length: 2.674 miles
Direction:
Clockwise
Turns: 17
Laps: 71
First race: 1963
Tyre compounds: Medium and soft
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights BBC One)
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