Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix Preview

Max Verstappen scored his 13th Grand Prix victory of the 2022 season, overtaking bitter rival Lewis with six laps remaining at the Circuit of the Americas. The win secured Red Bull the constructors’ championship for the first time since 2013. The team dedicated the victory to the late energy drink company’s founder and team owner Dietrich Mateschitz.

Mercedes’ second and fifth-place finishes in Austin saw the Brackley-based team whittle down second-placed Ferrari’s lead in the constructors’ championship to 53 points.

F1 heads to Mexico this weekend for the second race of the doubleheader. It has been a happy hunting ground for the world champion, with three wins at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

The 4.3km long circuit was heavily revamped in 2015 and features two long straights in the first sector. The track has a total of 17 turns and there are two DRS detection zones midway through the second and third sectors. Interestingly the track is 2km above sea level.

Each of the 71 laps requires 52 gear changes and drivers will spend 45% of the lap at full throttle. The longest flat-out section of the track is 1 200m and the maximum speed is 349km/h.

The track’s fast nature lends itself to favour Red Bull and Ferrari. The duo has shown their superior performance over the rest of the pack all season, and we foresee a victory for Verstappen. In fact, Red Bull’s dominance in recent history leads us to predict a 1-2 win for the Milton Keynes-based outfit. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is a good bet to round off the podium. The Spaniard was unlucky to lose out in States after starting on pole, only to have Russell clatter into the scarlet car at turn 1.

Mercedes will be buoyed by their strong performance in Austin, and Hamilton might rue the decision to continue on the hard compound at the end of the race. The W13 wore a range of modifications last weekend, and it could pay dividends once again in Mexico.

Look out for Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon to make headway for Alpine at a track that suits their strong package. Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel is driving with the verve of a world champion, and we expect the German to continue his gung-ho approach in Mexico City.

Verstappen, Perez, Sainz

Fastest lap:

Pole position: Verstappen

First to retire: Latifi

Most Team Points: Red Bull

Both Cars Qualify for Q3 Shootout: Mercedes

Free Practice 1/2/3 Winning Car: Verstappen / Red Bull

Safety Car: Yes

Top 6: Alonso

Top 10: Gasly, Stroll, Vettel