The characteristics of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the Mexican circuit that will host round 18 of this years Formula One World Championship ย are dominated by the high altitude of the track, at 2250m above sea level.
At 780mbar, the air density is very low, resulting in reduced downforce, drag and cooling capacity.
It's a standout challenge for the engine and brake system cooling, especially since it is a high brake energy track. Low-speed corners dominate the layout, so it is crucial to develop a set-up that gives you performance in those sections.
At the same time, you need to make the most of the very long straight which provides a very good opportunity for overtaking.
โRacing in Mexico is good fun. I am expecting the atmosphere to be fantastic,โ says Force India's Esteban Ocon. โI had a taste of it last year and the final sector, going through the stadium, is impressive. Motorsport and Formula One are very important for the Mexican fans and to hear them cheering every lap feels very special.โ
โThe track is great. You can find a very good rhythm and you can overtake. The stadium section is very slow and it bunches up the cars just before the very long straight. There are some special corners as well and it's just a cool track. Turns one and four are good opportunities for overtaking so I am expecting some action through that part of the lap.โ
โI have a Mexican teammate so this is a special race for the team. Sergio is very popular in Mexico, but I hope there will be a very warm welcome for me as well โ similar to what I had last year. Sergio and I had a few difficulties earlier in the year, but we're good now and there's a lot of respect between us. We work together for the team to get the best performance possible and I hope all fans will respect that.โ
