logo
F1 Mexican Grand Prix: Review of the Last Five Champions in Mexico City
Amir Azimi
Daily News

F1 Mexican Grand Prix: Review of the Last Five Champions in Mexico City

F1 Mexican Grand Prix: A Look at the Recent Champions at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

The Mexican Grand Prix returns as the second event in the American triple-header, set once again at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Racing here demands a unique approach due to Mexico City's altitude of roughly 2,240 meters above sea level. The thin air impacts car aerodynamics, reducing downforce and drag, which makes practice sessions especially important for drivers to adapt.

The long run leading into Turn 1 offers plenty of overtaking chances. Interestingly, two winners among the last five started from third place on the grid, showing how crucial race strategy and slipstreaming are here.

Fastest Laps at the Mexican GP

  • Qualifying Fastest Lap: Max Verstappen of Red Bull set the record with a lap time of 1:14.758 during the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix.
  • Fastest Race Lap: Valtteri Bottas, driving for Mercedes, clocked the fastest race lap at 1:17.774 on Lap 69 in the 2021 event.

The full race usually covers 71 laps around the circuit.

Winners from the Past Five Mexican GPs

  • 2025: Lando Norris (McLaren) - Starting on pole, Norris skillfully defended his position through the long Turn 1 run against Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. He cruised to victory, finishing over 30 seconds ahead of Leclerc.
  • 2024: Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari) - After claiming pole by edging out Verstappen in qualifying, Sainz lost the lead at the start but regained it by Lap 9. The race is remembered for a late battle between Verstappen and Norris, which saw Verstappen receive two 10-second penalties. This marked Sainz's last win as a Ferrari driver.
  • 2023: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - Despite Ferrari occupying the front row, Verstappen’s third-place start did not hold him back. Using the slipstream on the long straight to Turn 1, he took the lead early. A red flag caused by Kevin Magnussen's crash didn’t slow him, and Verstappen won comfortably by more than 13 seconds over Hamilton.
  • 2022: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - Starting from pole on soft tires, Verstappen managed a smooth one-stop strategy switching to medium tires. He kept Mercedes drivers behind and controlled the race well.
  • 2021: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - Starting third behind Mercedes teammates Hamilton and Bottas, Verstappen used the slipstream to pass them entering Turn 1. He dominated the race, winning by over 16 seconds. Sergio Perez delighted local fans by finishing third, becoming the first Mexican on the podium at his home GP.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Although Kimi Antonelli claimed victory in the recent Austin race, Max Verstappen remains the master at Mexico City with five wins here. The circuit favors straight-line speed, especially on the lengthy approach to Turn 1, suiting Verstappen’s style and Red Bull’s performance. His experience and the car’s pace make him the top contender heading into this year’s Mexican Grand Prix.

Related Articles