Formula 1 Ignites: Mexico Awaits a Crucial Weekend
The Formula 1 season reaches its final five races, and the drivers’ championship is at a critical point. The fight for the title focuses on a close duel between Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen. While Piastri and Norris, both McLaren drivers, compete for their first world title, a four-time champion, Verstappen, lurks. The Dutchman has closed the gap at an impressive rate in the last four races, giving him the opportunity to win his fifth championship this year. With the differences getting smaller and smaller, every point will be crucial in the upcoming races, which increases the pressure on the drivers.Weather Forecast
A warm and sunny weekend is expected in Mexico City, with partly cloudy skies and maximum temperatures of 26°C on Saturday. Friday and Sunday will have similar temperatures, with little chance of wind.This week’s highlights
The McLaren driver, Oscar Piastri, remains optimistic despite the decrease in his championship lead. “I’d rather be where I am than in the other two positions,” he stated. Jak Crawford, a rising star in American motorsport, will participate in the first free practice session for Aston Martin at the Mexican Grand Prix. Pato O’Ward will drive for McLaren instead of Norris, and Luke Browning will do so for Williams. American driver Colton Herta will compete in Formula 2 in 2026, seeking to prove his worth to reach Formula 1.Oscar Piastri’s championship fight is threatened by Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.Verstappen, after his home race 49 days ago, didn’t see himself as a title contender. “I would have told him he was an idiot,” commented the driver.
Max Verstappen
This is how the championships are
The excitement builds! Oscar Piastri (346 points) remains in the lead, but his advantage is shrinking more and more, with a 14-point lead over Lando Norris (332 points). Verstappen (306 points) is closing in, only 40 points behind Piastri and 26 behind Norris. Regarding podiums and victories, here’s how things stand for the top three:- Piastri – 14 podiums, 7 victories
- Norris – 15 podiums, 5 victories
- Verstappen – 10 podiums, 5 victories
Circuit Statistics and History
The races in the Magdalena Mixhuca park in Mexico City date back to 1959, with the first Formula 1 event on the circuit, a non-championship race, taking place in 1962. Local hero Ricardo Rodríguez died during training for the inaugural F1 event, and from that moment the circuit was named in honor of him and his brother Pedro, another Mexican racing driver, who died nine years later while competing in sports car races. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosted F1 championship races from 1963 to 1970 and again from 1986 to 1992 before returning to the calendar in 2015. The original circuit was known for its fearsome Peraltada curve, a long right-hand turn before the pit straight with a minimal escape zone. When the circuit returned in 2015, the Peraltada had been eliminated and replaced by the iconic Foro Sol stadium section, which includes two tight turns in a former baseball stadium. At an altitude of 7,300 feet (2,200 meters), the circuit is the highest on the F1 calendar and presents a unique challenge for teams and drivers. The thinner air means that the cars run with their highest wing levels, but still generate less downforce than in Monza, where the lowest wing levels are installed to reduce drag. The reduced oxygen levels in the air also require the power unit’s turbocharger to spin faster than at sea level, while also creating cooling problems for the tires and brakes.Mexico City Grand Prix- Circuit: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez; Mexico City, Mexico
- First F1 race: 1963
- Laps: 71 laps of 4.3 km
- Lap record: 1:17.774, Valtteri Bottas (2021)
- Most wins: Verstappen with five (2017-2018, 2021-2023).
- Other winners from the current grid:
- Lewis Hamilton (2016, 2019)
- Sainz (2024)
- Most poles: Jim Clark with four (1963-1965, 1967)
- Other drivers who have achieved pole position on the current grid:
- Hamilton (2016)
- Charles Leclerc (2019, 2023)
- Verstappen (2022)
- Sainz (2024)
What the drivers say: “The atmosphere in Mexico is unreal. Nothing compares to it.” – Sergio Pérez
Where to watch it: Foro Sol stadium section. A unique part of the track where the cars make their way through a converted baseball stadium, with fans packed in the stands erupting every time the cars pass.The winner of the race, Carlos Sainz, from Spain and Ferrari, celebrates in the parc fermé after the Mexican GP.What happened last year?
Sainz won the dramatic race, with Norris finishing second, while Verstappen dropped to sixth place after receiving two 10-second penalties. The penalties were for two separate incidents with Norris in which Verstappen forced him off the track. Leclerc finished third, as Ferrari achieved their third double podium of the 2024 season.Max Verstappen is 40 points behind leader Oscar Piastri in the drivers’ championship.How to watch the GP
For fans in the United States, the race will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN+. In the UK, live coverage will be on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio 5 Live, with highlights on Channel 4. For news, analysis, and updates, follow the coverage with the ESPN F1 team. Session times in BST (British Summer Time) and GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Local time is (CST) Central Standard Time (BST -7 hours). Note: The daylight saving time change in the UK on Sunday, October 26 at 02:00: Clocks go back 1 hour to GMT.Friday
- First free practice: 19:30-20:30 BST
- Second free practice: 23:00-00:00 BST
Saturday
- Third free practice: 18:30-19:30 BST
- Qualifying: 22:00-23:00 BST
Sunday
The race starts: 20:00 GMT (live text commentary from 19:00 GMT on ESPN.co.uk/F1).
