Components 1 has reached the ultimate 5 races of the season and the drivers’ championship is tantalizingly shut between the highest three: Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
As McLaren drivers Piastri and Norris battle for his or her first world title, they’ve a four-time world champion creeping up behind them, slicing their factors benefit at an unbelievable fee throughout the final 4 races. Verstappen’s latest resurgence has meant he has a shot at profitable a fifth world title this yr.
Because the gaps develop smaller, each level counts within the subsequent few races, so the strain is on.
Right here’s what to anticipate this weekend…
Climate forecast – heat & sunny
The early forecast exhibits a heat and sunny weekend in Mexico Metropolis with partial cloud and highs of 26°C (79°F) on Saturday. Friday and Sunday have comparable temperatures with a low likelihood of wind.
Leap to: Circuit historical past & stats | Race predictions | Methods to watch | Championship standings
NOT A PREDICTABLE DUEL: If somebody had instructed Verstappen, after his residence race 49 days in the past, that he can be a title contender by the top of the U.S. Grand Prix, his response would have been clear: “I’d have instructed him he was an fool,” Verstappen stated. So how have we obtained up to now?
STAY CALM: Figuring out the risk is one factor, however combatting it’s one other — how will McLaren handle the Verstappen title risk?
PENALTY: Carlos Sainz has obtained a five-place grid penalty on the Mexico Grand Prix for colliding with the Mercedes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Sunday’s U.S. Grand Prix. The Williams driver retired from the U.S. Grand Prix, subsequently what would’ve been a ten second penalty within the race has been transformed to a grid penalty.
PIASTRI REMAINS CONFIDENT: The Australian stays assured in his F1 world championship possibilities regardless of his slashed lead: “I’d nonetheless quite be the place I’m than the opposite two,” he stated.
FP1 NEWBIES: Rising American racing star Jak Crawford will drive in first observe for Aston Martin on the Mexico GP, as Pato O’Ward will drive in Norris’ place for McLaren, and Luke Browning drives for Williams.
HERTA JOINS F2: American driver Colton Herta will take the distinctive step of racing in feeder collection Components 2 in 2026 in a bid to someday make the Components 1 grid.
UNLAPPED: For extra evaluation hearken to the newest episode of ESPN’s F1 podcast Unlapped with F1 writers Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson.
The suspense is constructing!
Oscar Piastri (346 pts) stays the chief, however his benefit is getting progressively smaller as he stands 14 factors forward of Lando Norris (332 pts).
Verstappen (306 pts) is catching up — 40 factors behind Piastri, and simply 26 behind Norris.
What number of factors for a race win? Go to our F1 information for a reminder of how the factors system works.
As for a breakdown of podiums and wins, that is the way it seems to be for the highest three:
View the standings
Racing in Mexico Metropolis’s Magdalena Mixhuca park dates again to 1959, with the primary Components 1 occasion on the circuit — a non-championship race — happening in 1962. Native racing hero Ricardo Rodriguez died throughout observe for the inaugural F1 occasion, and from that time onwards the circuit was named after him and brother Pedro, one other Mexican racing driver, who died 9 years later whereas racing sports activities automobiles.
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez hosted F1 championship rounds from 1963-1970 and once more from 1986-1992 earlier than making its return to the calendar in 2015.
The unique circuit was identified for its fearsome Peraltada nook — an extended sweeping proper hander earlier than the pit straight with minimal run-off space. When the circuit returned in 2015, the Peraltada had been eliminated and changed by the enduring Foro Sol stadium part, which incorporates two tight corners in a former baseball stadium.
At an altitude of seven,300 ft (2,200 metres), the circuit is the very best on the F1 calendar and presents a singular problem for groups and drivers. The thinner air means automobiles run with their highest wing ranges however nonetheless generate much less downforce than they do at Monza, the place the bottom wing ranges are fitted to scale back drag. The diminished oxygen ranges within the air additionally require the ability unit’s turbocharger to spin sooner than at sea stage, whereas additionally creating cooling considerations for tyres and brakes.
Circuit: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez; Mexico Metropolis, Mexico
First F1 race: 1963
Laps: 71 laps of 4.3km
Lap report: 1:17.774, Valtteri Bottas (2021)
Most wins: Verstappen with 5 (2017-2018, 2021-2023).
Different winners from the present grid:
– Lewis Hamilton (2016, 2019)
– Sainz (2024)
Most poles: Jim Clark with 4 (1963-1965, 1967)
Different pole sitters from the present grid:
– Hamilton (2016)
– Charles Leclerc (2019, 2023)
– Verstappen (2022)
– Sainz (2024)
What makes it particular: A real anomaly on the calendar because of the excessive altitudes. Skinny air density — about 78% in comparison with sea stage — create odd paradoxes, the place groups can run Monaco-level downforce packages whereas nonetheless reaching Monza-esque prime speeds. Mexico loves its racing and it stays one of many loudest and most vibrant venues on the schedule.
What the drivers say about it: “The ambiance in Mexico is unreal. Nothing else comes shut.” — Sergio Pérez
The place to observe from: Foro Sol stadium part. A singular a part of the observe the place automobiles weave via a transformed baseball stadium, with followers jam packed into the stands erupting each time automobiles come via.
Sainz gained the dramatic race, with Norris ending second, whereas Verstappen dropped to sixth after being hit with two 10-second penalties.
The penalties had been for 2 separate incidents with Norris the place Verstappen compelled him off the observe.
Leclerc completed third, as Ferrari took their third double podium of the 2024 season.
For followers within the U.S. solely, watch reside on ESPN and ESPN+.
Within the UK reside broadcast protection is on Sky Sports activities F1 and BBC Radio 5 Reside, with highlights on Channel 4.
For information, evaluation and updates, comply with the protection with ESPN’s F1 crew Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson in Mexico Metropolis and on social media.
Session occasions beneath in BST (British Summer time Time) & GMT (Greenwich Imply Time). Native time is (CST) Central Commonplace Time (BST -7 hours).
Word UK daylight financial savings on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 02:00: Clocks return 1 hour to GMT.
Friday
Free observe one: 19:30-20:30 BST
Free observe two: 23:00-00:00 BST
Saturday
Free observe three: 18:30-19:30 BST
Qualifying: 22:00-23:00 BST
Sunday
Race begins: 20:00 GMT (reside textual content commentary build-up from 19:00 GMT on ESPN.co.uk/F1).
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