he Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit is situated at an elevation of 2,238 metres (7,343 feet), presenting challenges for engines, cars, and drivers due to the lower atmospheric density and reduced oxygen levels associated with high altitude.

For engines the lack of oxygen deprives the combustion part of the power unit of performance. The electric part is not affected.

The cars obviously suffer from the lack of combustion power, but the rarefied air also affects downforce. Despite the teams maximising the downforce for this circuit there is a limit to that due to the increased drag. This makes the cornering stability tricky to say the least. The other major influence of the rarefied air on the cars is a lack of cooling ability. The low density of air significantly impairs its capacity to dissipate heat from radiators. electronics, brakes and other heat sources. As demonstrated in the car presentation submissions, this represents a substantial engineering challenge.

The drivers must deal with the lack of performance speed and downforce. Besides tricky cornering their own breathing is affected, and shortness of breath is debilitating. Thank goodness these are very fit athletes.

The Mexico GP Circuit is not only the highest F1 circuit, but also the third slowest and the third shortest.

CAR PRESENTATION SUBMISSIONS

A summary of the submissions-

The submissions-

FREE PRACTICES

Sauber was the only team to field its regular drivers during the first free practice session. All other teams substituted one of their primary drivers with a development driver for this session.

It is not amazing that the teams, all but one, decided to run the first practice session with developing drivers. This circuit is seldom used, and its evolution is extremely high, five out of five.

All the practice sessions were entertaining and with some really surprising fast laps from unexpected drivers. The occasional yellow flag for wide running but no major interruptions. Only Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) had a serious car problem which curtailed his running to nine laps in FP3.

All the practise times-

QUALIFYING

Talk about surprises! After the second fast laps in Q2 Isack Hadja (Racing Bulls) was on top of the leader board with Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 0.003 seconds behind.

After that it was Lando Norris (McLaren) all the way except for the first fast run in Q2 when Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) put in a time of 1m15.991s, the first time under 1m16s, 0.179 seconds faster than Lando.

All the drivers in the top ten shootout did two fast runs with times improving. Lando clock a time of 1m15.586s which was 0.36 seconds faster that last year’s pole of 1m15.946s which was set by Carlos Sainz in a Ferrari.

The top ten qualifiers’ times for all their fast runs are here-

The race itself should be exciting. With fast Ferraris, George Russell (Mercedes) just behind them, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) in fifth and Oscar Piastri (McLaren) in eighth. Cannot wait to watch it.