Preview GP MEXICO 2023. Welcome to ‘Maxico’: Max Verstappen wins once more on a monitor the place he’s already the file holder, or will teammate Sergio Pérez lastly rise once more within the residence race?

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In regards to the location

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was already the house of Method 1 in Mexico from 1963 to 1970 and 1986 to 1992, and since 2015 the race has once more been a everlasting fixture on the calendar. Little doubt helped by the recognition of Sergio Pérez, who in recent times has claimed the standing of probably the most profitable Mexican F1 driver ever and attracts numerous followers to the capital for this race yearly. Nonetheless, a victory on residence soil has by no means been doable for Pérez: third locations within the earlier two editions are his finest outcomes right here.

The circuit in Mexico Metropolis is finest identified for its passage by means of a former baseball stadium, the place the rostrum ceremony additionally takes place. The circuit consists primarily of very sluggish, technical chicanes linked by some lengthy straights – with a collection of quicker S-bends in sector two as effectively. The straight with the beginning/end line is by far the most effective place to overhaul: it is usually very lengthy, which makes it not simple for the pole sitter to keep up the lead at the beginning.

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The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez additionally gives the groups an additional problem. The race is held at a excessive altitude, which implies there’s a lot much less air resistance and it’s tougher for the automobiles to chill. Organising a automotive for this race is subsequently not instantly apparent – this circuit generally brought on Mercedes, amongst others, a headache throughout their dominant years.

The climate forecast

Since its return to the calendar in 2015, the races on the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez have at all times been dry and that doesn’t appear to be altering this time. There’s a likelihood of showers on Friday, however it ought to stay dry in Mexico Metropolis on Saturday and Sunday.

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Our Method 1 watcher Gert Vermersch and reporter Sam Varewyck give their anticipated high three for every race, identical to final 12 months. This 12 months they are going to be joined of their predictions by one or two voices from the PlaySports podcast The Paddock: Dennis Xhaët and racing driver Sam Dejonghe may even take an opportunity.

That is the way it went final 12 months

Twelve months in the past, Max Verstappen achieved his fourth victory on the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez after 2017, 2018 and 2021, making him a good stronger file holder on this race. The Dutchman began from pole, retained his main place at the beginning and by no means received into hassle once more. Lewis Hamilton completed second, whereas Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Pérez gave the 1000’s of Mexicans current a celebration by ending third.

Good to know

With Jacky Ickx, a Belgian can also be on the honors checklist of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. He gained there in 1970, however that race is especially remembered for… the antics of the group. About 200,000 followers got here to the race to cheer on native hero Pedro Rodríguez. The followers went to nice lengths to do that: they dismantled the fences subsequent to the monitor, inflicting many spectators to take a seat on the grass aspect and watch the race and generally even cross the monitor.

Regardless of these life-threatening scenes, the Grand Prix nonetheless went forward, as a result of the organizers feared riots if it have been canceled. Three-time world champion Jackie Stewart killed a stray canine ​​at excessive velocity through the race, however miraculously each riders and spectators have been unhurt. After the debacle, Mexico misplaced its place on the F1 calendar: it might take till 1986 earlier than one other Grand Prix occurred.