F1 lands in Mexico with the battle between Mercedes and Ferrari actually hotting up… and a neighborhood hero within the quickest automobile
F1’s title races have lengthy been settled (had been they ever actually on?) however that’s no motive to not tune in for the final 4 races of 2023: the battle over the lesser placings is getting ever extra intense, and the implications for subsequent season are large.
Don’t consider us? The distinction between ending positions within the constructors’ championship are price tens of millions of {dollars} to the groups, and beating a rival this yr might be the factor that unlocks a vital improve to problem for wins and podiums within the subsequent. Make no mistake: it issues.
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And so F1 arrives in Mexico with a lot nonetheless to play for. Mercedes and Ferrari are separated by simply 22 factors within the battle for second place, with each groups reeling having had Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc disqualified from final week’s US GP. Extreme plank skid plate put on was guilty. Oops.
Then you definitely’ve received McLaren and Aston Martin squabbling over fourth and fifth: the previous overhauled the latter final weekend after months of enjoying catchup, has Aston received something to hit again with?
Then there’s Williams, Alfa Romeo, Haas and AlphaTauri all break up by a mere 16 factors: one large outcome for any of them may have a transformative impact on their seasons… and struggle chests for 2024.
Psyched to see all of it play out? Us too. Proceed to scrolleth for the complete lowdown on the Mexican GP…
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What time is the Mexican GP? And what time is qualifying?
We’re again to the usual format in Mexico after two successive ‘dash’ weekends, and so the grand prix begins at 8pm UK time on Sunday 29 October. And sure, we’ve factored within the clocks going again the night time earlier than, so no must get the abacus out. The grid might be set by qualifying on Saturday 28 October, which begins at 10pm.
Into the observe periods? There’s two on Friday 27 October (one at 7.30pm and one other at 11pm) with a 3rd shakedown on Saturday at 6.30pm. Screenshot this paragraph if you happen to want the reminder on stand-by.
What’s the climate going to be like?
Like a comfortable mattress, it’s going to be heat and dry. Nothing just like the temperatures we noticed in Qatar (even COTA received fairly scorching), however highs of 26 levels Celsius on race day might be very pretty certainly. There’ll be some cloud cowl, however no rain is predicted for now.
The place is the Mexican GP happening?
The Mexican GP is being held at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which is positioned proper within the coronary heart of Mexico Metropolis. And no, it’s not a avenue circuit. The Mexican GP rejoined the F1 calendar in 2015 after an absence of greater than 20 years, and it’s been a everlasting fixture ever since aside from 2020. As a result of Covid, clearly.
What number of laps is the Mexican GP?
71 laps of the observe are wanted to finish the 300km+ required from a grand prix working to a full race distance. The circuit options 17 corners, together with a sluggish, technical part within the ultimate sector that passes via an outdated baseball stadium. When filled with tens of hundreds of followers, it’s fairly unimaginable.
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The factor to recollect concerning the Mexican GP is that it takes place at altitude, greater than 2km above sea stage. So though it boasts one of many longest straights on the calendar, groups usually run their highest-downforce set-ups right here as a result of the air strain is far decrease. That additionally impacts engine output, and typically the standard pecking order will get shaken up consequently.
Who’s going to win the Mexican GP?
As Mexico is such an outlier of a observe, it may be laborious to foretell which groups can have the higher hand. However given Purple Bull and Max Verstappen’s dominance of 2023, we’re going to have to offer the nod to them as soon as once more.
In fact, the followers might be hoping that house favorite Sergio Perez will be capable to overcome his current patchy kind to beat his teammate to the highest step of the rostrum. We’d like to see it occur, if solely so the Mexican can someday look again on his profession and say he received his house race.
Behind Purple Bull, Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari are those to be careful for.
How can I watch the Mexican GP?
Within the UK, you’ll be able to both subscribe to Sky Sports activities, or take up a NowTV subscription with the intention to stream Sky’s protection through the interwebs. Failing that, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of qualifying and the race at 8.30am on Sunday and eight.25am on Monday respectively. Sure, Monday. The time zones are simply too awkward for us Europeans watching on catch-up. Cope with it.
Failing that, BBC Radio 5 Stay and Radio 5 Sports activities Additional can have dwell commentary of each session over the weekend…
What’s the TopGear view on the Mexican GP?
Wheel-to-wheel motion is usually briefly provide in Mexico, however the observe usually throws up curveballs and the eagerness of the followers makes it a should for the F1 calendar. And the truth that the native hero is driving the quickest automobile on the grid by a rustic mile certainly makes this Mexico’s greatest ever probability to witness a local victory? For his or her sake, we’re hoping the dream comes true.
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