Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez: Flying high
Its altitude makes the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez unique – situated at just over 2,200m above sea level, the circuit is the highest on the F1 calendar and that has implications on car performance. There is only 78 percent of the oxygen available at sea level, which means the internal combustion element of the power unit produces less power and the brakes are harder to cool in the thin air. In fact, the track is incredibly hard on brakes, with only Canada and Abu Dhabi asking more of an F1 car’s stopping power.
The key corner – Turn 16
The stadium section is one of the signature images conjured up when you picture the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Entry is via the right-handed Turn 12, which requires heavy braking after the long back straight – but which can also present an overtaking opportunity for the very brave. Entering the immense amphitheatre of grandstands, the drivers must feel like gladiators emerging into the arena. Once there, though, it’s a relatively low-speed battle as they round the incredibly slow Turn 13 hairpin, before preparing to exit the stadium via the double-hander comprised of Turns 14 and 16 (Turn 15 between is barely a kink). Sixteen is the one they really need to get right and in which finding maximum traction is critical, since it leads on to the 1.3 kilometre main straight where maximum speed means everything to lap time.
The top speeds reached in Mexico are immense – in last year’s race Valtteri Bottas was clocked at an incredible 231 mph at the end of the huge pit straight. Yet bizarrely, average speeds are rather modest – around 195 km/h – thanks to the more intricate nature of much of the track layout. In fact, on the current F1 calendar only the street circuits of Monaco and Singapore have lower average figures.
FAST FACTS
The baseball stadium which the track runs through is named the Foro Sol, and had played host to musical acts such as Madonna, U2, Coldplay, The Killers and One Direction.
Unusually, the podium isn’t located in the pit area at this track, but is instead at the stadium section of track, allowing the drivers to celebrate in front of 30,000 fans.
54% of the lap is spent at full throttle.
The circuit has room for 150,000 fans, with over 300,000 expected over a Grand Prix weekend.
It takes eighteen seconds to make a pit-stop here.
John Surtees clinched the championship at this track in 1964.
Michael Schumacher took his first F1 podium here in 1992.
The final turn of the track, the latter half of the old Peraltada corner, was named in honour of Nigel Mansell in 2015.
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