F1 Mexican GP Thread - Contains Spoilers - Sponsored by Tequila & Taco Bell

[Fernando]

Mexican Grand Prix since 1992, when Nigel Mansell drove to victory behind the wheel of a Williams. The first Mexican race was held in 1963 and the event would remain a fixture on the F1calendar for the next seven years. After a lengthy hiatus, the Mexican Grand Prix returned to the calendar in 1986 and a further six races were held until F1 once again left the country.

Now it’s back, and once again the Mexican Grand Prix is being held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, a high-speed track located in Mexico City and sitting at an altitude of 7,500 feet. Since the last race in ’92, the track has been revised under the guidance of German race track architect Hermann Tilke and includes a new pit lane and facilities.

The layout is an interesting one, with long straights but almost exclusively low-apex-speed corners. Top speeds will be amongst the highest of the season—despite more downforce being required than at Monza, for example. This is aided by the altitude of the track, which reduces drag effect. The low air density will also make cooling a challenge, and also means the turbocharger compressor must work harder in order to deliver equivalent power output to sea level.

With a freshly laid track surface also to consider, it will be interesting to see how the cars behave and how the order plays out. With no real data from the track, tire supplier Pirelli has relied instead on computer simulation to prepare for the race and decide which compounds will be most suitable, in this case the medium and soft compounds.

Mercedes AMG’s Lewis Hamilton was awarded the Drivers’ Championship title during last weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, so the chase for the top prize is now over. However, the runner-up position is still up for grabs, with fellow Mercedes man Nico Rosberg and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel the two drivers in contention.

Hamilton sits on 327 points in the Drivers’ Championship. Vettel is second with 251 and Rosberg third with 247. In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes was already handed the title and currently enjoys 574 points versus the 374 of Ferrari and 220 of Williams.

In other F1 news, Lotus, which is likely to return to racing under the Renault banner next year, has confirmed that British driver and last year’s GP2 champion Jolyon Palmer will join Pastor Maldonado at the Enstone-based squad in the new season. He replaces Romain Grosjean who has signed up with the new American effort Haas F1. John Booth & Graham Lowdon have resigned from their Manor Marussia positions

[Guest]

Verstappen quickest in a damp FP1. Decent track overall. I like the idea of the stadium section, will create a great atmosphere, but the actual track layout & slow corner section there is hardly exciting. Can see a few turbo's blowing this weekend, due to the altitude & season wear.

[Guest]

Esteban Gutierrez confirmed at Haas

Manor team principal John Booth & sporting director Graeme Lowdon, have tendered their resignations from the Formula 1 team.

[Fernando]

Bob Bell has left Marussia as well.

[CaledonianCraig]

Manor team principal John Booth & sporting director Graeme Lowdon, have tendered their resignations from the Formula 1 team.

I'd say that was a blow. Both have worked tirelessly to keep the team afloat.

[Guest]

Mercedes not certain for the win in Mexico. Overheating engines overheating breaks are going to be an issue.

[CaledonianCraig]

The other breaking storyline that is very interesting is Aston Martin buying into the Force India team.

[Guest]

Prediction : Vettel win

[Guest]

That prediction ended early.

Pony race track, one stop & too hot for the brakes, denying any close running.

[Guest]

Rosberg should control this from here

[Guest]

Vettel crashes, safety car out. Rosberg didn't want that, now has Hamilton right behind him.

[GSC]

Some really special questions on the Skys F1 twitter account, like would a 1.049 gap get DRS and why do the Mercedes drivers have an image of a watch sewn into their cloves

[Jermaine2015]

Wow the Mercedes doormat, Nico Rosberg, finally found some aggression and converted a pole into a victory...shame it's only about 4 months too late...

[Guest]

Rosberg didn't really show any aggression, he didn't need too. He got to turn 1 first & Hamilton, using his sense, just bailed out & slotted in behind, unlike what Rosberg did, last week. Rosberg just controlled the race, in what was a poor track for overtaking. Agree, four months or so too late.

[dyrewolfe]

Another race where I'm glad I only bothered with the highlights. About the most interesting thing to happen was Kimi vs Valtteri II...and of course Hamilton questioning the team's decision to go with a 2nd pit stop.

For a few moments I did think they would let him run to the end and get the win (assuming Rosberg didn't manage to catch him on fresh tyres).

Weird that Mercedes felt the need to do this when Perez did around 50 laps following his one and only stop (wonder where he could have finished if he hadn't had to nurse them that long).

It was interesting to see the number of mistakes the "green" slippery track caused. Guessing this won't be as much of a problem in future races.

Although I only saw the edited highlights it didn't seem like there was much overtaking. Wonder if the DRS zones need adjusting to help with this?

[Mad for Chelsea]

Was a pretty dull race dyrewolfe TBH. Very little overtaking and wheel-to-wheel racing.

Rosberg did well, controlled the race with a much better start this time. We know the Mercedes isn't the best car at following another in dirty air, so that start will always be the most important part. Rosberg did respond by upping his tempo when Hamilton put him under a little pressure, but overall not sure the track offered enough opportunities for overtaking. Not sure where the talk of a more aggressive Rosberg comes from, was a controlled drive from pole position.

Vettel had a shocker, which means that unless reliability issues crop up Rosberg will finish second in the drivers championship. Good podium for Bottas.

Not much more to add, all a bit of a yawn-fest that one, shame as the crowd was great, and it was following probably the most exciting race of the season.

[GSC]

Pirelli are looking at introducing an ultra soft compound for next season and giving teams a choice of 3 tyres to use in the dry each race

Suzie Wolff has retired because apparently being married to Toto isnt enough to get you a race drive.

[Guest]

Rumour of her being lined up for Top Gear

[Fernando]

Ain't no one watching that sh*t then

[GSC]

Has anyone really watched it lately anyway? I assumed it would get taken out to pasture post Clarkson

[dyrewolfe]

Pirelli are looking at introducing an ultra soft compound for next season and giving teams a choice of 3 tyres to use in the dry each race

Suzie Wolff has retired because apparently being married to Toto isnt enough to get you a race drive.

Won't change a damn thing. Teams will still go with whichever strategy require the fewest stops.

An even softer compound will just mean nursing the tyres for even longer before you can go flat out until the next stop / end of the race. The sooner people realise tyre compounds aren't the answer the better.

I'm kinda surprised Wolff retired, when she could presumably have gone back to DTM or some other class of racing.

Has anyone really watched it lately anyway? I assumed it would get taken out to pasture post Clarkson

As I understand it Chris Evans was given the gig (main presenter) and he's still working on auditioning co-presenters and ideas for the first episodes.

Top Gear Co-Presenters on the verge of signing, says Chris Evans

Susie would make a great Stig...provided they kept her appointment secret. Totally wouldn't mind her as a presenter either though. Fifth Gear have Vicki Butler-Henderson, after all.

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