Formula 1 competes this weekend in the Mexican GP, the 20th round of the 2025 World Championship, at the challenging Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. It will be the first time in precisely 10 years that the country hosts a stage of the calendar without any Mexican driver competing, which marks a significant change, as Sergio Pérez, the sport’s emblematic national hero, is no longer part of the current drivers’ grid (but for a short time).
Formula 1 continues its tour of North America this weekend and travels to Mexico City for the 20th round of the 2025 World Championship. After a US Grand Prix with a sprint race, the traditional format returns – with qualifying on Saturday and racing on Sunday – at the iconic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
With an extension of 4,304 kilometersthis is the third shortest circuit on the calendarsecond only to Zandvoort and, of course, Monaco. The race track has 17 curves e two DRS zoneswith the Grand Prize being made up of 71 laps.
This circuit is widely recognized as one of the more demanding and challenging for single-seatersdue to its location at 2,240 meters altitude.
How does it explain , a lower air density significantly affects the behavior of single-seaters, reducing aerodynamic load and impairing cooling capacity. This leads teams to adopt high pressure settings, similar to those used on other more demanding circuits.
Built between 1959 and 1960, the race track owes its name to the most iconic duo in the history of Mexican motor sport: the brothers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez, who lost their lives in racing accidents: Ricardo in 1962at age 20, and Pedro in 1971at 31.
It hosted its first Formula 1 race in 1962although it was only the following year that it officially became part of the World Cup calendar. In total, the circuit hosted 15 Mexican Grands Prix between 1963 and 1992, with a break between 1971 and 1985, and returned to the calendar in 2015. It is expected that after the renewal confirmed in April this year.
What times is the Mexico City GP held?
Friday, October 24th
- Free Practice 1 (FP1): 19:30–20:30
- Free Practice 1 (FP2): 23:00–00:00
- Free Practice 3 (FP3): 18:30–19:30
- Qualifying: 22:00–23:00
(Mainland Portugal time)
The baseball stadium that turns into an F1 track
One of the most emblematic features of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is the fact that a part of its route runs through the interior of an old baseball stadiumwhich was the home of Red Devils of Mexicoa Mexican team, between 2000 and 2014. Outside of the period in which it hosts the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the stadium is transformed into a concert hall for concerts.
Or famous Sun Forumas the area of the track located inside the stadium is known, offers a privileged view, just a few meters from the track, allowing fans to stay very close to the pilots and single-seaters passing at high speed.
Furthermore, it is one of the best places to awatch the podium celebrations after the race. For these reasons, it is also, as expected, one of the most coveted sections during the ticket race.
Sérgio ‘Checo’ Pérez, the national hero
The atmosphere felt at the Mexican GP was completely transformed after its return to the calendar in 2015, at a time when Sergio Perez he was the only Mexican driver on the Formula 1 grid.
However, it was from 2021 onwards, when he started competing for the Red Bullwhich Checo stood out as a kind of “national hero”seen as the man capable of representing and leading his country to victory.
That same year, on his debut for the Austrian team, Sergio Pérez became the first Mexican driver to reach the podium in his home Grand Prix. Although it ended in third placethe achievement had the flavor of victory.
In the club of immortals
The editing of 2018 of the Mexican Grand Prix was not one of the most brilliant races of Lewis Hamiltonbut it symbolized the moment in which he was, definitively, in the history of motor sport.
The British driver only finished fourth, without the pace to fight Verstappen and the Ferraris, but that didn’t matter much. When he crossed the finish line, he knew that no one was taking his fifth world title.
A title that allowed him match the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio and which showed that the Mercedes driver was not just a generational talent, but rather a distinguished member of the immortals club.
A Mexican (H)wave
Mexico has a special significance for Honda. It was there, that the Japanese brand won the first victory in Formula 1with the North American Richie Ginther at the wheel.
The little one Honda RA272 he was the first to cross the finish line and gave Japan its first triumph in the premier category of motorsport.
The victory at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was more than a trophy: it marked the moment in which the Honda proved to the world thathates competing on equal terms with the European giants. Richie Ginther, discreet and methodical, became the unlikely hero (only victory in 52 races in Formula 1) of a historic achievement.
Who won last year?
The 2024 edition of the Mexican Grand Prix was the last race to have a Ferrari driver on the highest podium. Since then, the fasting of Scuderia lasts for 23 consecutive Grands Prix.
In the final stretch of his time with the Maranello team, Carlos Sainz starred in a dominant victoryafter leaving the pole position. Lando Norris (McLaren) finished in second place and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) in third place.
Who leads the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships?
Com 19 of 24 races contested in the 2025 season, Max Verstappen reinforced, in Austin, the status of title candidate – happening, the fifth in a row – after a hegemonic performance with triumphs in the sprint race and the Grand Prix.
The Dutch pilot gained points from the McLaren duo and now totals 306, 26 less than Lando Norris and 40 less than leader Oscar Piastri.
In the Constructors’ Championship, the title was already awarded several weeks ago, but the fight for second place is on: Mercedes (341), Ferrari (334) and Red Bull (331) are separated by just 10 points with five rounds to go.
