Mexico Grand Prix – The 7 Key Facts

1. Hamilton equals Fangio (2018)

Let’s start this list with the greatest historical event that took place in Mexico: Lewis Hamilton’s fifth title.

For the second consecutive year, the Mercedes driver arrives in Mexico with a second match point against his rival (and then equal in number of titles) Sebastian Vettel.

After missing the mark at the previous Grand Prix, allowing the victory to slip through the hands of Kimi Räikkönen, the Briton has a 70-point lead over his German counterpart with only three rounds left to race. The situation is simple: he just needs to score 5 points in the last 3 races to secure the crown.

At the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, Red Bull is celebrating by monopolizing the front row for the first time in the hybrid era. Ricciardo clinches his third pole ahead of Verstappen and the two title contenders, Hamilton in front of Vettel.

At the start, Verstappen gets the better of Ricciardo just like Hamilton. But the Mercedes is very demanding on tires and the Mercedes driver is passed by Ricciardo, Vettel, and Räikkönen.

Never mind, even if his series of 10 consecutive podiums comes to an end, the British driver clinches a fifth crown, making him equal to the great Juan-Manuel Fangio.

Historical.

2. The resurrection of Nico Rosberg (2015)

In 2015, Nico Rosberg somewhat misses his season. Unrecognizable in many Grand Prix races, especially at the beginning of the season, the German seems to have not recovered from losing the title in 2014 and especially from their first collision at Spa where he was publicly held responsible.

The perfect example to summarize his season is undoubtedly the previous Grand Prix in the United States: Dominating since the beginning of the Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver makes an irreparable mistake a few laps from the end, offering the Grand Prix and the title of champion to his teammate who was not expecting it.

Wounded in his pride, Rosberg was determined to set the record straight, as evidenced by his cap-throwing before the podium of the United States Grand Prix. And what we can say is that he will do it in a very impressive way.

F1 is heading to Mexico for the first time in 23 years. If the race didn’t leave a lasting impression, Rosberg’s comeback is striking. Author of a Hat Trick (pole-win-fastest lap), the German driver signs his fourth victory of the season and starts a new cycle.

Indeed, Rosberg starts his series of 7 consecutive victories in Mexico, the second longest series in F1 history behind Vettel’s nine, spanning from late 2015 to early 2016, laying the foundation for his future 2016 world champion title.

3. Honda’s first victory in F1 (1965)

In 1965, Lotus and Jim Clark crush everything in their path. The competitiveness of the single-seater combined with Clark’s speed make one of the most victorious cocktails of the 60s and the golden age of Colin Chapman’s team. However, a small hitch can quickly happen even to the greatest champions.

Much better than previous seasons in terms of reliability, the 1965 Lotus stands out at the Mexican Grand Prix where, after only 8 laps, Clark’s engine goes up in smoke. Seizing the opportunity, there are many outsiders among the Brabham and BRM drivers in particular.

But in this Grand Prix, it was the American Richie Ginther who experienced his moment of glory. Indeed, starting from third position, the Honda driver starts like a rocket and immediately takes the lead of the race, never to let it go. Ginther here achieves his first (and only) victory in F1 and also gives the Japanese brand its first success in the premier category.

Pioneer.

4. The Vettel / Hamilton battle (2017)

If the 2018 title was acclaimed as the standout event, it should not be forgotten that already in 2017, the battle was raging between Vettel and Hamilton.

The situation before the Grand Prix: Hamilton arrives in Mexico with a 66-point lead over Vettel with three races left and only needs to score 9 points in these races to clinch a fourth title and become equal to the German and Alain Prost.

On Saturday, Vettel clinches the 50th pole of his career ahead of Verstappen and Hamilton. But on the first lap, disaster strikes: the German driver hits the Red Bull and crashes into his rival’s Mercedes. Result: a front wing for Vettel and a flat right rear tire for Hamilton.

Both of them back in the bottom of the pack, the two drivers are moving up, Vettel a little better than Hamilton but the German can’t do better than 4th and offers the title to Hamilton, 9th at the end of the Grand Prix after a wonderful battle against his former teammate Fernando Alonso.

5. Mexico, land of titles (1967/1968)

Apart from Hamilton’s two titles, Mexico has regularly been a decisive round for a championship, especially in the 1960s. In 1967, Brabham-Repco dominated the championship but it was Jim Clark in his Lotus-Ford who won the Grand Prix by putting all his opponents one lap down, except Jack Brabham, who finished second.

His New Zealand teammate, Denny Hulme, also clinched his only world champion title by finishing in third place on the podium. In 1968, it was Lotus’s turn to celebrate despite the tragic loss of their leading driver, Jim Clark. Leading from start to finish, Graham Hill secured his 13th career victory as well as his second world champion title.

6. The first victory of Berger and Benetton (1986)

In 1986, Alain Prost, the title holder in his McLaren, and the Williams-Honda of Piquet and Mansell are fighting for the ultimate crown. While Ayrton Senna occasionally disrupts at the wheel of his Lotus-Renault, it is Gerhard Berger who will stand out at the Mexican Grand Prix. Starting 4th behind Senna and the Williams, the Austrian remains on the lookout at the beginning of the race behind Piquet and Senna.

Thanks to a superb strategy from his young Benetton-BMW team, the young Berger will surprise everyone and emerge as the master by dominating the second half of the race, beating his closest rival Alain Prost by more than 25 seconds.

This victory is the first of its kind for Berger and Benetton, the beginning of a long series for the driver (recruited shortly after by Ferrari) and the team (constructor champions in 1995).

7.Surtees in the legend (1964)

Last feat of our list, and not the least: John Surtees’ exploit. As previously described, Mexico has often been a decisive Grand Prix for the awarding of titles in the 60s. We have isolated this specific case because its development is absolutely fantastic!

Final round of the 1964 season, three drivers can still be crowned world champion: Graham Hill (BRM), Jim Clark (Lotus), and John Surtees (Ferrari).

Jim Clark secures pole position and dominates the race, but Graham Hill, leading the championship, is well placed in 3rd position to secure the title. However, with 35 laps to go, the English driver is violently hit by Lorenzo Bandini and has to make a very long pit stop.

Clark is well on his way to securing his second consecutive crown but two laps from the end, he is let down by an oil leak from his engine and gives up any chance for the title.

As Gurney takes the win in his Brabham, he beats Bandini and Surtees at the start of the final lap, which means that Graham Hill is virtually the world champion. But Bandini will voluntarily let his teammate pass into second place, earning enough points to win the ultimate prize.

John Surtees therefore becomes on this October 25, 1964, the first driver (and still today the only one) to become world champion on two wheels and four wheels after winning 7 titles in motorcycle between 1956 and 1960.

Legendary.