#F1 Gran Premio De La Ciudad De Mexico 2025 Preview. #MexicanGP
Formula 1 Gran Premio De La Ciudad De Mexico 2024 Race Start, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City, Mexico. Image credit to Mark Thompson/Getty Images. 2025 Mexican GP Preview, Mexico City GP Preview, F1 Mexican GP Preview, Formula 1 Mexico Preview, 2025 F1 Mexico Preview.
2025 Mexican GP Preview – After Max Verstappen cruised to victory in Texas to close in to 40 points on championship leader Oscar Piastri in the Drivers’ standings and Lando Norris only now 14 points behind his McLaren team-mate, round 20 of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship this weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico for the Formula 1 Gran Premio De La Ciudad De Mexico 2025. This will be the 26th time that Mexico will be hosting a Grand Prix and the twenty-first as part of the FIA Formula One World Championship. This is the second race of a back-to-back-to-back weekends with the US and Brazilian Grands Prix.
2025 Mexican GP Preview – A look at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is a permanent racing circuit located in Mexico City, Mexico named after famous racing drivers and brothers Ricardo and Pedro Rodriguez. The circuit was built in 1962 within the public park of Magdalena Mixhuca Sports City in southeast Mexico City and hosted its first Formula One Grand Prix the same year as a non-championship round. The following year the Mexican Grand Prix became a full World Championship event. The circuit remained part of the calendar through until 1970 when spectator overcrowding caused unsafe conditions and was dropped from the calendar for 15 years. When the track re-opened and Formula 1 returned from 1986-1992, it boasted a new pit building complex, as well as improved safety all around. Eventually as race speeds increased, the number of serious accidents grew and demands for further safety improvements were made. The organisers were faced with financial difficulties and could not meet the demands needed to keep it on the calendar and was again dropped. In August 2011 with the rise of Mexican drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Gutierrez, its revived plans to bring Grand Prix racing back to Mexico with tycoon Carlos Slim proposing a revived Mexican Grand Prix.
In May 2012, it was announced that the circuit again will host a Grand Prix from 2013 in a five-year deal to replace Valencia, but this did not happen. It was then listed as the 19th round of the 2014 championship on the provisional calendar but was not finalised on the schedule. In July 2014, it was then announced by Bernie Ecclestone that the Mexican Grand Prix will return starting in 2015 on a 5- year deal.
The Grand Prix circuit underwent major renovations from circuit designer Hermann Tilke for the return of Formula 1 in 2015. The front straight was slightly extended and modified to incorporate a new media centre and paddock. The iconic Esses between turns 7 and 13 were significantly changed with the prolific, high radius turns largely diminished and some replaced with fixed angle turns. The baseball field portion of the track was also altered to accommodate a low-speed left-right combination that bypassed the first half of the famous Peraltada, allowing the cars to re-enter the Peraltada halfway through the corner.
The circuit has the highest altitude of any Formula One event on the calendar all year and this affects aerodynamics as well as top speed. On the 1.3 kilometre main straight, the 1.6L turbocharged V6 era cars will exceed 330kph.
The current Grand Prix circuit is 4.304km (2.674mi) in length with 17 corners and runs in a clockwise direction.
Race distance is 305.354km (190.846mi) in length with 71 laps in total.
Valtteri Bottas holds the fastest lap record at the Mexican Grand Prix with a 1:17.774 set at the 2021 event in his Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team F1 W12 E Performance racer.
Max Verstappen holds the record of most Mexican Grand Prix victories with five.
Oracle Red Bull Racing is the most successful constructor at the Mexican Grand Prix with five victories to their name.
2025 Mexican GP Preview – The Last Five Mexican Grand Prix winners
2024: Carlos Sainz, Scuderia Ferrari. 2023: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2022: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2021: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2020: Not held. 2019: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1.
2025 Mexican GP Preview – Onboard lap of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Here is the onboard pole lap of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez set at last year’s Mexico City Grand Prix by Carlos Sainz in his Scuderia Ferrari SF-24 racer, with the Monegasque driver posting a blistering 1:15.946. You can watch the video right here at the link: Carlos Sainz’s Pole Lap | 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix | Pirelli
2025 Mexican GP Preview – Tyres
Pirelli will be bringing with them to Mexico, the white side-walled C2 Hards, the yellow-branded C4 Mediums and the red-marked C5 Softs along with the green-marked Intermediate and blue-branded Full Wet tyre compounds in case of rain.
Teams will also trial a prototype C6 tyre this weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in the second practice session for the weekend, which will run for 90 minutes.
Drivers will have eight sets of the softs, three sets of the mediums and two sets of the hards.
2025 Mexican GP Preview – DRS Zones
At the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez there will be two DRS Zones, with the detection point between turns 14 and 15 with the first activation point on the main straight with the second activation zone between turns 3 and 4 on the second straight.
2025 Mexican GP Preview – Pitlane Speed Limits
Pitlane speed limits will be 80km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.
ICYMI: Verstappen cruises to US GP victory
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen cruised to victory at the US GP to complete a solid weekend in Texas ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris who came home second to make in-roads in team-mate Oscar Piastri’s championship lead as Charles Leclerc completed the top three for Ferrari.
Verstappen led comfortably from start-to-finish to take his 68th-career win and closes in to 40 points behind championship leader Piastri in the World Drivers’ Championship standings and 26 behind Norris.
Norris is now only 14 points behind Piastri as the Formula 1 circus heads to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez next weekend.
When the 56-lap US GP began, pole-sitter Verstappen got a brilliant getaway into turn one to cover Norris as Leclerc was feisty. he ran very wide into the opening corner and he gets Norris. Behind them, Piastri was quick off the line and managed to squeeze between Russell and Hamilton – which was a brave move. He overtook Russell but had to yield to Hamilton who had the racing line.
The beginning of the second tour saw Verstappen’s lead at 1.581 seconds over Leclerc with Norris third, Hamilton fourth, Piastri up into fifth, Russell and Antonelli in sixth and seventh respectively, Bearman eighth as Sainz and Tsunoda completing the top ten runners.
Sainz made his way around Bearman at turn 15 to jump into eighth place whilst Yuki Tsunoda on the main-straight also made his way by the Haas driver to take ninth place.
On the opening tour, Williams’ Alexander Albon was tagged into a spin by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll at the start causing the double-waved yellow.
The fifth lap saw Verstappen’s lead at 3.550 seconds over second-placed Leclerc (the soft tyre starter) who was having Norris and Hamilton right behind for company.
The McLaren looked fast in race trim. Norris needed to find a way past Leclerc, or risk overheating his medium tyres. The gap was at half-a-second, and they were losing sight of Verstappen as a result of this battle.
The Dutchman has over three seconds ahead of the field.
Piastri was having Russell behind for company in the fight for fifth as the latter almost clipped the McLaren.
Replays showed Mercedes’ Antonelli suffer a spin at turn 15 after being tagged by Williams’ Carlos Sainz who was trying to find his way ahead of the Silver Arrow as the virtual safety car was deployed.
Albon got rid of his harder tyres and bolted on a set of mediums on the eighth tour. The VSC was still on, as that contact between Sainz and Antonelli was noted by the stewards.
Antonelli had fallen to last place as a result of that clash.
The VSC ended, and off they went. Verstappen led by just under three seconds from Leclerc, who would have welcomed that reprieve to cool his soft tyres with open arms. Norris remained in-front of Hamilton and Piastri, who lost half-a-second somewhere behind the VSC deployment.
On the tenth tour – Thanks to the tangle, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso were promoted into the top 10. Tsunoda was up to seventh, but he was behind Russell.
None of the top six were in DRS range at this stage – it was just too hot out there to push and remain in the dirty air for lap after lap.
Third-placed Norris was also struggling with his front-left – Those on the hards were not finding much grip, nor pace. Mediums and softs looked to be the best way to go in the blistering 46-degree track temperatures.
Norris was sitting 1.5 seconds behind second-placed Leclerc as the battle began to intensify again, the latter’s softs were holding on really well. Piastri was over two seconds behind Hamilton in the battle for fourth place.
On the 13th lap – Verstappen was looking in solid form. He had a four second lead on Leclerc, so was out of undercut range. Norris having cooled his tyres has just got a push on and was trying to get back within DRS range of Leclerc in-front.
“Piastri seems slow,” reported Russell from sixth. He was 1.5 seconds behind the McLaren man on lap 14.
“He’s struggling with his front left,” Russell was told.
Leclerc was watching his mirrors closely – because Norris is coming quick. The McLaren man was back within DRS range of the Ferrari. And if he doesn’t clear him soon, Verstappen would be well be clean and gone.
But Leclerc was defending so well. he had not put a foot wrong, but his rear tyres are starting to look a little worn.
On lap 15, Verstappen’s lead increased to over five seconds of Leclerc as the latter had a charging Norris attempt to go around the outside of the Ferrari into turns 12 to 19 but Leclerc managed to keep the McLaren behind.
On the 17th tour – Leclerc being forced to defend meant Verstappen was pulling away here to a comfortable six seconds and counting. Norris had dropped back to recharge his battery, behind them – Hamilton was starting to join the battle but Piastri had dropped way off the back of the Ferrari.
And that meant Russell might sniff a chance in the battle for fifth place.
Battery changed, Norris was all over the back of Leclerc’s Ferrari again. But the Monegasque driver was having none of it. How long can his soft tyres last was the question? Bortoleto had already pitted and got rid of his C4’s.
With DRS assistance around the outside on the back straight on the rundown to turn 12, Norris had another look around the Ferrari of Leclerc into turn 13 and 14 – but the Briton could not find his way ahead of the SF-25.
Verstappen’s lead on lap 20 was at nine seconds over the battling Leclerc and Norris, Hamilton and Piastri followed in fourth and fifth respectively as Russell held sixth.
Norris was hit with a black-and-white flag for exceeding track limits three times and on lap 21, with DRS assistance the Briton finally made his way around the Ferrari of Leclerc on the run to turn 12 left-hander and made the move stick to take second place.
On the 22nd lap – Verstappen had a 10.8 second lead over Norris. So, let’s see what tyre life the Briton had. And Norris had free air to work with. Behind – Piastri had been nursing his tyres and playing the longer game.
Leclerc after holding up team-mate Hamilton for a lap with no team orders in play – pitted from third for a fresh set of the C3 mediums and came out in ninth behind Hulkenberg.
On lap 24 – Verstappen led Norris by 10.8 seconds, and Hamilton was a further three seconds back. Piastri was holding fourth place, also three seconds back.
Lap 25 – Leclerc was the only top runner to pit at this stage of proceedings – but he was also the only top 10 starter on the softer rubber.
The Monegasque driver was three seconds behind Hulkenberg, who was running eighth and could be on for points today after the disappointment of yesterday’s Sprint race.
No one else at the front had made any in roads on each other last time around.
Lap 26 – Leclerc on his newer medium tyres and with DRS assistance down the back straight on the run to turn 12 made the move on the inside of Hulkenberg to move up into eighth place as he had Bearman next in his sights.
Out-front – Norris had not made any gains on race leader Verstappen as the gap reached over 11 seconds.
On lap 27 – Up front – Verstappen said his tyres were “becoming tricky”. As he was told by race engineer Giampiero Lambiase that the conditions were changing out there.
Leclerc on the 29th lap made his way ahead of Bearman on his progression up the field to move up into seventh place.
Red Bull tell Verstappen to extend if he can as they are looking at the “alternative strategy.” The suspicion was now that everyone who started on mediums will try and go for a one stop onto the softer compounds. Quite the contrast to the first few laps, when tyre wear seemed high and a two-stop seemed the likely strategy. It was because everyone wants to avoid the harder tyre now.
Leclerc on lap 30 breezed his way past Tsunoda through the turns 12, 13 and 14 sequence to move up into sixth as the latter pitted for a set of softs to come out in 11th place behind Lawson.
On lap 31 – Fifth-placed Piastri stopped for his set of softs along with Bearman, Alonso and Lawson as they all put on the red side-walled compound and emerged in seventh, ninth, 14th and 15th respectively.
Hamilton pitted from third on lap 32 for his set of the C4’s and came out in sixth place behind Hulkenberg.
Thanks to Verstappen nursing his tyres, Norris had eaten two seconds out of his lead. It now stood at 9.8 seconds at this stage.
On lap 33 – Second placed Norris pitted for his set of softs and came out in fourth place behind Leclerc as race leader Verstappen was told to box next time round.
Replays showed Norris suffer a long front-left lock-up into turn 12 before his pit-stop.
Race leader Verstappen pitted for his set of the C4’s and came out comfortably out-front as Russell and Hulkenberg also made their stops – Russell emerged in fifth place behind Piastri and Hulkenberg in ninth behind Bearman.
On lap 35 – Everyone had now pitted. Verstappen was leading from Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton and Piastri. But the yellow flags were out for Bearman, who had suffered a spin whilst battling Tsunoda for seventh place.
The replays showed Bearman made a late lunge, got on the grass, which spun the Haas driver round. Somehow Tsunoda avoided the spinning VF-25 entry.
The question was did Tsunoda move under braking? The stewards noted the incident.
Lap 36 – Verstappen led by 6.7 seconds from Leclerc, who had Norris 1.7 seconds behind. Hamilton was quite a bit further back, with Piastri and Russell well-spaced behind them.
Tsunoda was holding seventh place ahead of Hulkenberg, Bearman dropped a place to the German after his spin. Albon was tenth and in-front of Alonso courtesy of an early stop, but he might have to stop again.
On lap 37 – The Leclerc-Norris battle was once again back on the cards for second place – Norris was 1.3 seconds back from his Ferrari rival, on softer tyres. Leclerc was on mediums, but they were older – 14 laps old.
The 38th tour saw Albon pit again, which released Alonso into tenth. A black-and-white flag was issued to Bortoleto as well. Norris had one too – so if he exceeded track limits once more, he would receive a five-second time penalty.
Lap 39 – Verstappen’s lead was at 6.8 seconds and was deliberately minding these soft tyres at this stage as behind them Norris was in DRS range of Leclerc.
On the 40th tour – Norris was eight tenths behind Leclerc. This is a fun battle and could have ramifications in the Championship battle with team-mate Piastri struggling in fifth place.
Three points extra for finishing second not third for Norris would be the motivational boost he needed.
Lap 41 – Norris reported to say his tyres were gone. They were only 14 laps old – he had to put on an old set of softer tyres on, a set that already had six laps on them. And he could not get back to within a few tenths of the Ferrari.
Race leader Verstappen was told about Norris’ complaints about his tyres.
On lap 42 – Norris was bluffing as he dropped back from Leclerc to cool his tyres. So, the McLaren driver was 1.3 seconds back on the Ferrari, which bought Leclerc some breathing space.
Verstappen was still nursing his tyres out-front, he was not scampering down the road but instead making sure his softs would last to the end.
Lap 43 – Verstappen’s lead was almost seven seconds as he headed towards his third win in the last four races.
Replays showed third-placed Norris sliding around, with a line of blisters starting to appear on his front-left tyre.
On the 44th tour – Norris was genuinely struggling. The Briton was not just cooling his tyres; he was falling back. Leclerc was now 2.4 seconds down the road and looking comfortable on his medium compounds. he might even keep an eye on Verstappen in-front, in case his softer compounds start to go off the cliff.
Lap 45 – “I know the car feels ***** right now,” Norris was told. “But your pace is really strong.”
The McLaren driver was 2.7 seconds back on Leclerc at this stage, with Ferrari seemingly making a great strategy call by starting their man on the C4’s.
With ten laps remaining – Verstappen’s lead was at 6.635 seconds over Leclerc with Norris third, Hamilton fourth, championship leader Piastri fifth, Russell sixth, Tsunoda seventh, Hulkenberg eighth, Bearman ninth as Alonso rounded out the top ten.
Lap 48 – Norris was starting to close back up to Leclerc in the battle for second place.
Further back, Lawson and Stroll were all over the back of Alonso in the fight for the final points place.
On the 49th tour – Norris was now just 1.1 seconds behind Leclerc, so he could have DRS again in a lap.
Leclerc was on 26 lap old medium tyres whilst Norris was on 22 lap old softs. A little further back, Russell was eating into the gap to fifth-placed Piastri, which was down to 2.9 seconds.
Lap 50 – Leclerc switched from attack to defence mode, so Verstappen’s lead grew to over 7.7 seconds. And that was because Norris had DRS.
On lap 51, Norris made a move on the inside of Leclerc with DRS on the main-straight into turn one – but the Briton ran too deep allowing Leclerc to retake the place back.
On the back straight – Norris with DRS range made a move on the inside of the Ferrari into turn 12 to jump into second place.
Lap 52 – Leclerc was encouraged to “keep the pressure on” and reminded that Norris had that black and white flag for track limits.
But Leclerc was already falling back rapidly, his tyres were looking to be lacking grip.
Lap 53 – Verstappen took advantage of the fight behind to increase his gap – which was at 8.6 seconds as he headed towards his fifth win of the campaign.
Behind him – Norris behind was already 2.4 seconds in-front of Leclerc.
And further back, Russell’s charge had faded away and he had not closed up any closer to Piastri in the battle for fifth place.
Verstappen crossed the line to take the US GP victory for the fourth time in his F1 career by 7.959 seconds over Norris as Leclerc completed the top three and a further 15.373 seconds down.
Hamilton suffered a front-right puncture on the final lap limping home in fourth just ahead of championship leader Piastri who settled for fifth in a difficult weekend for the Australian.
Russell finished sixth in the classification and in-front of Tsunoda who was seventh and Hulkenberg who took eighth.
Bearman and Alonso completed the final points places.
2025 Mexican GP Preview – The Situation
Formula 1 heads to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez this weekend for the Mexico City Grand Prix after a dramatic Sprint weekend in Texas, which saw things close up in the title race.
A solid weekend for reigning world champion Max Verstappen means he is 40 points behind World Driver’s Championship leader Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris’s second-placed finish at the United States Grand Prix sees him only 14 points behind his McLaren team-mate.
The title contenders have converged over the past four Grands Prix with what looked like a long shot for Verstappen turning into a potential sensational comeback.
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez features the longest rundown to the opening corner, so the beginning of Sunday’s race promises to be thrilling.
Meanwhile Charles Leclerc claimed Ferrari’s first podium since July but it has been exactly one year since the Prancing Horse won a race.
Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are split by ten points in the fight for second place in the World Constructor’s Championship standings.
Attention will also be focused on Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula 1 Team pairing Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson as Red Bull visor Helmut Marko confirmed a decision on their 2026 driver line-up will be made after the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Piastri returns to Mexico City on top of the World Driver’s Championship standings and sitting on 346 points with a 14-point advantage over McLaren team-mate Norris who is second on 334 points whilst Verstappen is third and a further 40 behind the Dutchman on 306 points.
McLaren Formula 1 Team returns to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with the World Constructor’s Championship wrapped, currently sitting on top with 678 points with a 337-point gap over nearest rivals Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team who are second on 341 points while Scuderia Ferrari are a further 344 behind the Woking based-outfit in third on 334 points.
During Free Practice One, five teams are scheduled to field alternate drivers who had not raced in more than two Grands Prix, as required by the Formula One regulations:
- Luke Browning at Atlassian Williams Racing in place for Carlos Sainz.
- Jak Crawford at Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Team in place of Lance Stroll.
- Patricio O’Ward at McLaren Formula 1 Team – Driver making way TBC.
- Antonio Fuoco at Scuderia Ferrari in place of Sir Lewis Hamilton.
- Arvid Lindblad for Oracle Red Bull Racing in place of Max Verstappen.
- Frederik Vest for Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team in place of George Russell.
- Paul Aron returns in the Alpine A525 in place of Pierre Gasly.
- Ryo Hirakawa returns to pilot the Haas VF-25 in place of Oliver Bearman.
Williams’ Sainz will receive a five-grid-placed-penalty for his collision with Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap of the United States GP.
2025 Mexican GP Preview – Mercedes confirms Russell and Antonelli as their 2026 Driver Line-Up
On October 15, it was confirmed by Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team that George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli will continue as the team’s driver line-up for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season.
Five-time Grand Prix winner Russell head into his eighth F1 campaign whilst team-mate Antonelli continues into his second year.
Both have been part of the Mercedes Driver Academy, having joined their programme in 2017 and 19 respectively.
Mercedes AMG Petronas CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff explained: “Confirming our driver line-up was always just a matter of when, not if. We wanted to take our time, handle the negotiations properly and make sure everyone, on all sides, was happy. I’m pleased we have done that. George and Kimi have proved a strong pairing and we’re excited to continue our journey together. Our focus is now on the final six races of the year, as we fight for second in the Constructors’, and onwards to 2026 and a new era in F1.” Wolff concluded, credit to Mercedes for the quote.
Russell clinched the GP3 and FIA Formula 2 World Championship titles en route to Formula 1, and following a three-year spell at Williams, had won five Grand Prix since stepping up to a race seat with the works Mercedes outfit.
2026 will be his fifth season with the Brackley-Brixworth based-squad.
“I am really proud to be continuing our journey together,” Russell commented. “Next year will mark my 10th since I signed with Mercedes back in 2017. It has been such a long and successful partnership with the team so far and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead, particularly as we embark on one of the largest regulation changes in the sport’s history next year. We are all incredibly focused on making that a success and, for me personally, building on what has been my strongest season in F1 to date.” Russell concluded, credit to Mercedes for the quote.
Antonelli meanwhile has scored multiple Formula 4 championships, the Formula Regional Championship and race victories in FIA Formula 2 before making his Formula 1 debut at the beginning of this year.
Since then, the Bologna-born Italian has become the third youngest podium finisher in Formula 1 history and leads one of the strongest rookie groups in many campaigns.
“I’m super excited to be continuing with the team,” explained Antonelli. “I’ve learnt so much in my first season in F1, both in the good moments and the more challenging ones. Those have all made me stronger, not only as a driver but as a team-mate too. I want to say thank you to Toto and everyone at Brackley and Brixworth for their continued support and faith in me. Our focus now is to finish this year strongly and secure second in the Constructors’ Championship, before we then turn our full attention to 2026. There’s plenty for us still to achieve in these final six races and we will be giving it our all.” Antonelli concluded, credit to Mercedes for the quote.
Russell currently sits fourth in the World Drivers’ Championship standings on 252 points whilst Antonelli is seventh on 89 points.
The Silver Arrows are second in the World Constructor’s Championship standings on 341 points as the battle for the runners up spot heats up with rivals Ferrari and Red Bull Racing.
Click here for the 2025 Formula 1 World Driver’s (Top 10) and Constructor’s Championship Standings
The Formula 1 Gran Premio De La Ciudad De Mexico 2025 weekend begins with Free Practice 1 and 2 Friday October 24, followed by Free Practice 3 and Qualifying Saturday October 25 and the 71 lap Race Sunday October 26.
