Mexican Grand Prix guide
For all you need to know about the big news, the track, the tyres and the numbers that matter…
Rosberg on the cusp of history
A victory for Nico Rosberg coupled with a DNF for Lewis Hamilton will see a new World Champion crowned at the Mexican GP as the German would take an unassailable 51-point lead in the Drivers’ standings with two races remaining.
And it is not out of the realm of possibility given their contrasting fortunes.
Although Hamilton pulled one back against Rosberg in Austin last Sunday, the championship leader’s runner-up result was enough to ensure he remains on course for his first F1 World title.
In the long run all Rosberg needs is a hat-trick of P2s to claim the Drivers’ title, however, a DNF for Hamilton – who has been plagued by engine issues throughout this season – could see it wrapped up a lot sooner.
Did you know?
This year’s grand prix will mark the 18th time that Formula 1 has raced at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.
Esteban Gutierrez will be the fourth Mexican driver after Sergio Perez, Pedro Rodriguez and Moises Solana to start a F1 grand prix in Mexico.
To date Rodriguez has recorded the best result by a Mexican in Mexico with his P4 in 1968.
Perez, though, did at least score last season as he brought his Force India across the line in eighth place.
Nico Rosberg is the only current driver to have won the Mexican GP but needs another two victories to match Jim Clark’s tally of three; 1962, 1963 and 1967.
Last season Rosberg beat Lewis Hamilton by 1.954s but the closest winning margin is Riccardo Patrese over Nigel Mansell in 1991 when he took the chequered flag by 1.336s ahead of the Brit.
The biggest winning margin was Jim Clark over Jack Brabham in 1963 where he was 1 minute 41.1 seconds ahead of the Brabham driver.
What happens when…
The 71-lap Mexican Grand Prix will get underway at 1pm local time on Sunday 30th October.
A lap of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez
Romain Grosjean: “Long straight line going into turn one with big braking, 90 degrees right-hand side, followed by a small chicane. It’s very important to get the second part right because you’ve got another long straight line.
“Then you’ve got another 90-degree left corner, and then a 90-degree right corner. That’s followed by a very weird double right-hander. It’s very difficult to find a line.
“Then you go to the middle section which is flowing, with mid- to high-speed left and right corners.
“Next it’s the entry to the stadium – big braking here, very tricky with the wall facing you. Then it’s a very slow hairpin in the stadium, as slow as Monaco.
“Finally, it’s the double right-hand corner with very important traction going into the old part of the oval to finish the lap.”
Mercedes play it safe
Pirelli are supply the white-marked medium, yellow-marked soft and red-marked supersoft compounds for race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with Mercedes playing it safe.
Championship leader Nico Rosberg has opted for four sets of the mediums, four softs and five supersofts while his rival Lewis Hamilton has gone with three, five and five.
In contrast Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen has only two sets of the mediums, five of the softs and six of the supersofts while Sebastian Vettel has one more set of mediums and one less of the softs.
Over at Red Bull, both drivers have take three mediums, four softs and six supersofts.
The tyre list…
