Spherical 18 of the 2021 Formulation One World Championship takes place this weekend in Mexico.
Beforehand referred to as the Mexican Grand Prix, the race has been renamed the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix to replicate its presence within the Mexican capital.
The annual race, which was skipped final yr as a consequence of Covid-19 restrictions, runs on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, a 2.67-mile circuit situated simply exterior of Mexico Metropolis. The circuit has at all times been residence to the Mexican race, though its identify and format have modified over time. The latest replace to the circuit’s design was performed previous to the 2015 race, by famend circuit architect Herman Tilke.
The circuit’s present format consists of a protracted straight, a combined center sector and a remaining half that includes the well-known Peraltada, a lot modified at this time from its previous as a parabolic nook harking back to the one at Monza.
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, residence of the Formulation One Mexican Grand Prix
The circuit additionally lies at an altitude of near 7,500 toes, the thinner density of the air making engines work tougher and cooling extra of a problem. The vehicles additionally sometimes run in high-downforce mode due to the skinny air’s decrease drag impact.
Prime speeds are among the many highest of the season, with vehicles reaching virtually 230 mph on the strategy to Flip 1. The climate will also be problematic, with each heat situations and heavy rain attainable. The present forecast requires good situations all through the weekend.
Pirelli has nominated the C2 because the P Zero White laborious, C3 because the P Zero Yellow medium, and C4 because the P Zero Pink smooth, the identical nomination as 2019 however a step tougher than in 2018. The choice to swap to the tougher compound was as a consequence of elevated graining famous within the 2018 race.
Going into Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race, Pink Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen leads the 2021 Drivers’ Championship with 287.5 factors. Mercedes-Benz AMG’s Lewis Hamilton is second with 275.5 factors and fellow Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas is third with 185 factors. Within the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes leads with 460.5 factors, versus the 437.5 of Pink Bull and 254 of McLaren. The 2019 winner in Mexico was Hamilton driving for Mercedes.
