Mexico – Presentation: Hamilton crowned under the sun of Mexico?
A seventh place. That's what Lewis Hamilton needs in the last three Grand Prix to secure his fifth world title. No doubt, the Brit and his Mercedes team won't want to prolong the suspense any longer... unless Ferrari and Red Bull come to shake things up! But will that be enough?
« The circuit is a real challenge. Due to the altitude, but also because the track is slippery with very little grip, making it very easy to make a mistake or lose time. The long straight is usually our best overtaking opportunity, but with these single-seaters, it’s never easy to do. »
If you ask most drivers about the Mexican track, they will all tell you that it is very slippery and therefore tricky, as presented by Sergio Pérez, the local driver.
The Rodríguez Brothers Circuit, however, appeals to everyone, especially for its stadium at the end of the lap, a real highlight of this weekend where the crowd reacts en masse to each passage of a race car. The podium is also celebrated there, enough to have beautiful images in mind for the three lucky ones on Sunday evening.
The track should also suit Red Bull, who have been waiting for this event for a long time to aim for victory. Last year, Max Verstappen performed miracles by winning the Grand Prix, just a week after being removed from the Texas podium for a last-lap maneuver deemed contentious by the stewards. In full confidence after his climb from 18th to 2nd place in Austin, the Dutchman starts this weekend as the favorite.
The owner’s tour
Le #Pirelli Hypersoft arrive pour le #MexicanGP ???????? !#Fit4F1 #F1 pic.twitter.com/HcrRqAoaNx
— Pirelli France (@PirelliFR) 22 octobre 2018
For posterity
Last year, the first corner led to a rather intense exchange between Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton. The latter two did not come away unscathed, but that did not stop the Briton from winning the world title by the end of the race. Will history repeat itself?
Tarmac and mistral
Les pneumatiques sélectionnés par les pilotes pour le #MexicanGP. #F1 pic.twitter.com/05VlACH2cv
— Au Rupteur (@AuRupteur) 24 octobre 2018
On a slippery and dusty track, the 20 participants of this weekend naturally favored the softest tire compounds, leaving aside the red-banded Super Softs. This choice was even more apparent for Valtteri Bottas, who, along with Daniel Ricciardo, is the only front-runner to bring just one set of this type.
The rest of the grid sees their choices look very similar except for Fernando Alonso, who may be planning an alternate race strategy with 3 sets of Super Soft tires.
The color of the sky is likely to be variable this weekend. Rain is expected on Friday, but it will be even heavier on Saturday. The qualifying session is likely to take place on a wet track. On Sunday, the sun should return, but temperatures won’t reach high levels, staying around 20 degrees.
TV program
