This weekend sees the second of three rounds of the 2021 Formula 1 season held in the Americas. After the United States Grand Prix two weeks ago, we now head to Mexico which, like the event at COTA, is back on the calendar after not being able to host the Formula 1 race in 2020.
The Mexican Grand Prix has always been held in Mexico City, at the same track, which over the years has undergone changes to its name and layout. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is located within the large Magdalena Mixhuca sports complex, not far from the centre of the megalopolis. The track features a long straight in the first sector, while the second is more technical. Before changes introduced in 2015, the final part featured the Peraltada as its last corner, the name meaning ‘raised up’ in Spanish, which had a 10 degree banking. Since the race returned to the calendar after an absence of 23 years, the track has undergone extensive revisions, the most significant being in this final sector. The Peraltada has now been changed into a very slow stadium section, the Foro Sol, that is less demanding in terms of driving, yet gives fans the opportunity to see the cars close up at low speed. The cars pass between very high grandstands, usually packed with fans making so much noise that even the drivers in the cockpit can hear them. There are 17 corners on the 4.304 kilometre lap and there are three DRS zones. The race runs over 71 laps, which is the equivalent to 305.354 km.
Scuderia Ferrari no longer hides behind a finger. During the last 5 rounds of the world championship, the goal is set: to win the battle for third place in the Constructors’ standings. The technical resources to beat McLaren are all apparently there and failing to do so would mean not maximizing the package available. Carrying out this goal by achieving the target has a much wider meaning than the mere numerical result of third place.
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The necessary growth phase, in fact, also passes through this point: setting goals within reach and reaching them. The historic Italian team is eager to return to the spotlight. To do this, the Prancing Horse team must automatically grow, limit errors, acquire strategic dexterity over the weekend and, in particular, optimize the material available.
The particular location of the Mexican circuit offers various technical ideas on which to work. Referring to the engine side, in addition to the “problems” created by the different rarefaction of the air closely linked to the power of the turbine, there is another element that should be noted: the hybrid system of the power unit.
The two motor generators MGU-K and MGU-H will play a very important role. We are not talking only about the value relating to the amount of recoverable energy, however of a medium-high level, but rather about the importance related to the efficiency of the whole system. The latest update carried out by the Maranello technicians on the 065/6 engine has in fact increased performance and productivity and the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, in this respect, represents a convincing test to definitively verify the quality of the work done.
At the aeromechanical level, at least on paper if we keep in mind the intrinsic characteristics observed on the SF21 during the season, we can undoubtedly define the track located on the outskirts of Mexico City as favorable to Ferrari. The men in Maranello know this and the desire to bring home a great result hovers in the Ferrari minds.
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