F1 Mexico: Verstappen Hunts Down Piastri and Norris in a Crucial GP

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 is concentrated among three outstanding figures: Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen. McLaren’s drivers, Piastri and Norris, are competing for their first world title, but a four-time champion is closely stalking them, closing the gap at an impressive pace in the last four races. Verstappen’s recent resurgence puts him in the fight for a fifth championship this year. With the differences becoming increasingly tight, every point is crucial in the upcoming races. The pressure is at its maximum.

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 a low probability of wind.

Top News of the Week

“I would have told him he was an idiot,” Verstappen declared, referring to the possibility of being a title contender after his home race.

Max Verstappen

Carlos Sainz will face a five-place grid penalty at the Mexican Grand Prix due to an incident with Andrea Kimi Antonelli at the United States Grand Prix. The 10-second penalty in the race turns into a grid penalty. Oscar Piastri maintains confidence in his championship chances, despite the reduction of his lead: “I prefer to 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 practice session for Aston Martin at the Mexican Grand Prix. Pato O’Ward will drive for McLaren in place 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 credentials to reach Formula 1.

The fight for the championship is heating up. Oscar Piastri (346 points) leads, but his advantage decreases, with a 14-point lead over Lando Norris (332 points). Verstappen (306 points) is dangerously close, only 40 points behind Piastri and 26 behind Norris. Regarding podiums and victories, here’s how things stand:

• Piastri – 14 podiums, 7 victories
• Norris – 15 podiums, 5 victories
• Verstappen – 10 podiums, 5 victories

Circuit Statistics and History

The competition in the Magdalena Mixhuca park in Mexico City dates back to 1959. The first Formula 1 event on the circuit took place in 1962, a non-championship race. The circuit was named in honor of the Rodríguez brothers, Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez, Mexican drivers. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosted F1 championship races from 1963 to 1970 and from 1986 to 1992, before returning to the calendar in 2015. The original circuit was known for its fearsome Peraltada curve. In 2015, the Peraltada was removed and replaced by the iconic Foro Sol stadium section, which includes two tight turns in a former baseball stadium. At an altitude of 2,200 meters, the circuit is the highest on the F1 calendar, presenting a unique challenge for teams and drivers. The thinner air requires cars to use higher wing levels, but they generate less downforce than in Monza. Reduced oxygen levels also force the power unit’s turbocharger to spin faster, generating cooling problems for 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 pole positions: Jim Clark with four (1963-1965, 1967)

Other drivers with pole position from the current grid:

• Hamilton (2016)
• Charles Leclerc (2019, 2023)
• Verstappen (2022)
• Sainz (2024)

What makes it special: A true anomaly on the calendar due to the altitude. The low air density creates paradoxes, where teams can use Monaco-level aerodynamic packages while reaching top speeds similar to Monza. Mexico loves racing and remains one of the loudest and most colorful venues on the calendar. What the drivers say: “The atmosphere in Mexico is unreal. Nothing is like it.” – Sergio Pérez Where to watch: Foro Sol stadium section. A unique part of the track where the cars make their way through a converted baseball stadium, with the fans packed in the stands, erupting every time the cars pass.

What happened last year

Sainz won the race, with Norris in second place, while Verstappen fell to sixth place after receiving two 10-second penalties. The penalties were for two separate incidents with Norris. Leclerc finished third, with Ferrari achieving their third double podium of the 2024 season.

How to watch the Grand Prix

In the United States, the race is broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN+. In the UK, live coverage is on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio 5 Live, with highlights on Channel 4. For news, analysis, and updates, follow the coverage with the F1 team from Alofoke Deportes. Session times (BST – British Summer Time & GMT – Greenwich Mean Time). Local time is (CST) Central Standard Time (BST -7 hours).

Note: UK Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, October 26 at 02:00: Clocks go back 1 hour to GMT.

Friday

First free practice: 19:30-20:30 BST Free Practice 2: 23:00-00:00 BST Saturday Third free practice: 18:30-19:30 BST Classification: 22:00-23:00 BST

Sunday

Race start: 20:00 GMT