2025 Mexican Grand Prix - Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Oct 24 - 26

[MtthsMlw]

Tyre selection
C2 - C4 - C5

2024 Results
Qualifying


Race




2024 Pole Lap
2024 Race Highlights
Schedule and more information

[venkyhere]

Yet another weekend of Pirelli trying the lame 'tyre step' trick, which hasn't worked so far. Although this time, the H is the C2, which means it will be used. Expecting the same M-H one stop race. Plus being a 'regular weekend' with three practice sessions, expecting teams to be a lot closer to each other.

As for pace, turns 15-16-17 immediately after leaving the stadium section - whoever is faster through there, wins. This track has 'stop-start-stop-start' written all over it. Similar to LeClerc in Austin, I expect Russel to be the 'surprise interferer' in the McLaren-Max battle and could even find a spot on the podium in Mexico. Hamilton most likely to be the one from the big-hitter teams to suffer.

[AR3-GP]

It was interesting that the C1 was so mediocre after there was nothing out of the ordinary on Friday.

[Sergej]

highlight of last year

[SB15]

I see Mercedes doing really well here. And Pirelli once again using their abysmal tyre strategy.

[venkyhere]

If we look at it from a technical standpoint, there are 3 slow-speed clusters, 1 medium speed cluster, and all this joined by straights - a complete lack of 'flow' (except the medium speed cluster in sector2). Totally boring track. I don't know why the likes of Hockenheim/Malaysia/FrenchGP tracks are not there, but this thing is present on the calendar. And Zandvoort is no longer there. Compared to this, even Baku is heaven, with a handful of actual corners in sector3. I guess money is what charts the course for FoM, to hell with quality of circuit design.

[Trogg]

One of the worst circuits on the calender for me, just meh.

[Mansell89]

I see Mercedes doing really well here. And Pirelli once again using their abysmal tyre strategy.

Any reason behind this one suiting Merc? (Not doubting you just keen to understand- I’ve got them down as favs for Vegas but I cannot get a read on them here).

The High Altitude used to penalise draggy cars less here didn’t it? Could see Aston having a decent weekend myself

[SB15]

I see Mercedes doing really well here. And Pirelli once again using their abysmal tyre strategy.

Any reason behind this one suiting Merc? (Not doubting you just keen to understand- I’ve got them down as favs for Vegas but I cannot get a read on them here).

The High Altitude used to penalise draggy cars less here didn’t it? Could see Aston having a decent weekend myself

Simply because the main corner type are stop & go traction zones, with the slow speed corners like Canada, Baku, Singapore and Vegas. Especially in Turns 12, Turns 4-6 and Turns 12-16. Mercedes should be lightning quick in those sections and on the straights because their High downforce rear-wing in the most aero efficient. I do see the Mclaren's being the best overall balance through the lap but not enough for pole. The Redbull needs a lot of downforce put on but Max should be by far the quickest through Turns 7-11.

[Badger]

I see Mercedes doing really well here. And Pirelli once again using their abysmal tyre strategy.

Any reason behind this one suiting Merc? (Not doubting you just keen to understand- I’ve got them down as favs for Vegas but I cannot get a read on them here).

The High Altitude used to penalise draggy cars less here didn’t it? Could see Aston having a decent weekend myself

Simply because the main corner type are stop & go traction zones, with the slow speed corners like Canada, Baku, Singapore and Vegas. Especially in Turns 12, Turns 4-6 and Turns 12-16. Mercedes should be lightning quick in those sections and on the straights because their High downforce rear-wing in the most aero efficient. I do see the Mclaren's being the best overall balance through the lap but not enough for pole. The Redbull needs a lot of downforce put on but Max should be by far the quickest through Turns 7-11.

Most teams didn’t opt for the highest downforce wings last year, instead opting for a medium-high approach. So I don’t see that Singapore Merc straight line speed advantage coming into play.

It does make me think that RB will have an easier time finding a good balance since it’s easier to tune a sharp front when the rear wing isn’t massive. Judging on Baku and Singapore I think both Merc and RB could be strong, at least in quali. McLaren will be fastest in the race, but a bit of a question mark for one lap pace.

[Farnborough]

I really can't see that bland "copy & paste" statement based on last year-this year circuit specific performances could be much in the way of reliable in prediction here.

As these chassis and aero interpretation have reached pretty evolved status, all the teams appear to be on the tatty and slightly frayed edge of their performance envelope. The support teams have to be very "cute" in working their key attributes, all while minimising/disguising their latent weakness ....hidden or otherwise understood by public discussion.

We really don't know what we are going to get, with any reliability that is.

All are chasing down just how low they can dare to expose their plank etc. Obviously with some significant swing in outcome it seems.

Some of the driver's too just possess more adaptable skill margin in these finite areas of grip and tradeoff into opportunistic circumstances.

[organic]

It's Maxico

I don't feel like there's a clear indication that this circuit will favour one team over others - you can make cases for different teams.

• It's more stop-go than most which indicates Merc should be closer. But I don't see their resurgence being as dramatic as Singapore was or indeed Vegas will be.

• McLaren's low efficiency should be compensated by the thin air somewhat, and their cooling advantage (for car internals etc) should be more powerful again though this time due to thin air.

• But red bull might be able to run more rear downforce here than we're used to seeing from them, given their new front wing development path seems to have afforded them far more front end without running into understeer issues. Normally at Mexico red bull have been forced to run with a lot less wing than you might expect at Mexico just to balance the car. And red bulls qualifying advantage looks to be real if COTA is anything to go by, and Mexico is notoriously difficult to pass at without absurd pace advantage after T1

[Vettel165]

Max destroyed the field already back in 2017, 2018 here. It was a pure domination already against faster Mercedes and Ferrari cars. And cant forget that double overtake from third on the grid in 2021.

[r85]

It's Maxico

I don't feel like there's a clear indication that this circuit will favour one team over others - you can make cases for different teams.

• It's more stop-go than most which indicates Merc should be closer. But I don't see their resurgence being as dramatic as Singapore was or indeed Vegas will be.

• McLaren's low efficiency should be compensated by the thin air somewhat, and their cooling advantage (for car internals etc) should be more powerful again though this time due to thin air.

• But red bull might be able to run more rear downforce here than we're used to seeing from them, given their new front wing development path seems to have afforded them far more front end without running into understeer issues. Normally at Mexico red bull have been forced to run with a lot less wing than you might expect at Mexico just to balance the car. And red bulls qualifying advantage looks to be real if COTA is anything to go by, and Mexico is notoriously difficult to pass at without absurd pace advantage after T1

Isn't the thinner air more favorable for the smaller Honda turbochargers than the large ones in the Mercedes engines? There was a lot of that talk in 2021, but things look more equal on the engine front so I don't see it come up much nowadays. But Red Bull is more competitive now than the tail end of 2024, so I'm wondering if that will come into play again.

[De Wet]

If we look at it from a technical standpoint, there are 3 slow-speed clusters, 1 medium speed cluster, and all this joined by straights - a complete lack of 'flow' (except the medium speed cluster in sector2). Totally boring track. I don't know why the likes of Hockenheim/Malaysia/FrenchGP tracks are not there, but this thing is present on the calendar. And Zandvoort is no longer there. Compared to this, even Baku is heaven, with a handful of actual corners in sector3. I guess money is what charts the course for FoM, to hell with quality of circuit design.