Inside the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez: Breathlessness, speed, and the magic of Mexico

In Mexico City, everything is different. The air is thinner, breathing is shallower. It's not just emotion or adrenaline: it's pure physics. At over 2,200 meters above sea level, oxygen is scarce and everything changes, from the engine's behavior to the aerodynamic performance, to the driver's body sensations, who must adapt to an environment where every heartbeat and every curve weighs a little more. With long straights, slow corners, and incredible cheering, this is one of the most captivating circuits in the F1 world championship.

The route

Every corner of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez forces you to balance your strength and concentration differently. On the main straight, one of the longest in the world championship at over 1,200 meters, the cars slide lightly, almost free of aerodynamic downforce. But it's an illusion; as soon as you brake, the tires don't inspire the same confidence as at Austin or Silverstone. The asphalt is smooth, rarely used, and it takes time for it to "rubber in." The first braking point, at Turn 1, is a gamble.

Sector 1

The first sector is pure courage. After the start, you're at over 350 km/h before the hardest braking point on the track, Turn 1. You brake hard, but you always feel like you're going too far. Then, a fast chicane: Turn 2 and Turn 3 , where it's easy to lock up the front left. If you arrive clean, you gain precious time on the following straight. The trick here is to keep the steering fluid, because the thin air reduces the stability of the rear end under acceleration. The car tends to skid slightly when you open the throttle, but if the drivers manage to steer it smoothly, it rewards in terms of traction. In the race, this is also the trickiest point for overtaking: long slipstream, and wheel-to-wheel contact all the way to Turn 4 .

Sector 2

We enter the technical heart of the circuit. The second sector is a sequence of medium-speed corners, from Turn 6 to 11, requiring a balance between mechanical grip and aerodynamic stability. In Mexico, aerodynamics don't work as well as elsewhere. With the thin air, the wings generate about 25% less downforce . To compensate, "maximum downforce" configurations are used, practically like in Monte Carlo, but the car still feels light on the front end. Every change of direction must be carefully prepared, without jerking. The tires are under constant stress, the track is smooth, the temperature high, and the risk of graining is always around the corner. When the tires begin to grain, the steering wheel vibrates and the car gradually loses grip. Whoever can keep them warm with clean driving can make the difference here.

Sector 3

Then comes the Foro Sol , the most incredible stadium in F1. A left turn takes the drivers into a slow bend beneath an amphitheater exploding with colors and flags. It's like walking into a rock concert at 100 km/h. The Foro Sol grandstands, built inside the former baseball stadium, are the beating heart of the Mexican GP. Every pass is a roar, and once you're inside, the sound of the engine blends with that of the crowd. It's a thrill that few tracks in the world can offer. Then you exit towards the final section, a technical combination of Turns 13, 14, and 15 , where traction and precision are needed to launch onto the final straight.

Numbers and curiosities

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a unique track, both for its technical characteristics and the challenges it poses to drivers. Spanning 4.304 kilometers and featuring 17 corners over 71 laps , the Mexico City track tests the precision and endurance of every single-seater. Located at 2,285 meters above sea level, it is the highest altitude on the entire F1 calendar. Impressive top speeds of over 360 km/h are reached here along the main straight, which is over a kilometer long. Interestingly, it is also one of the tracks where drivers change gears the least frequently. The race lap record belongs to Max Verstappen , who stopped the clock at 1:17.774 in 2023, confirming the special bond between the Dutch champion and this high-altitude circuit.

The track is named after brothers Pedro and Ricardo Rodríguez , two pioneers of Mexican motorsport who tragically died during a race. Every corner, every wall bears their name and their legacy. The original circuit, built in 1962 , was renovated in 2015 with the current layout. It's a perfect blend of history and modernity; the endless straight remains, but the old Peraltada curve, now divided into two sections for safety reasons, is a tribute to the past.

Statistics and history

Since 1963, the Mexican GP has seen 24 editions . The most successful is Max Verstappen , with five wins in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. But among the great protagonists of this track are also Jim Clark , who scored four pole positions in the 1960s, and Lewis Hamilton , the British driver who celebrated two world titles here, in 2017 and 2018. In recent years, Ferrari has also found fertile ground: Leclerc in 2023 and Sainz in 2024 took pole position, with the Spaniard scoring his last victory in red here. The record attendance belongs to 2022, with more than 395,000 spectators over the weekend. This figure demonstrates how authentic and visceral the Mexican passion for F1 is.

Technical challenge

Racing at 2,200 meters also means one thing: the engines suffer. Less oxygen means less power , and the turbines must work harder to compensate. It's a delicate balance: pushing too hard leads to overheating; if you skimp, you lose speed. Cooling is also a serious issue. The thin air carries less heat away from the radiators, and the cars' internal temperatures rise quickly. The teams work with extreme cooling configurations, but every small mistake is costly.

The future of the circuit

The Autodromo is now a fixture on the F1 calendar until 2030 , thanks to its renewal signed in 2023. It is a track that combines technology and heart, modernity and passion. In recent years, it has also expanded its activities with Formula E events, concerts, and green initiatives to reduce the GP's environmental impact. Mexico City is now one of the most sustainable GPs of the season. And while the world looks to Las Vegas or Miami for spectacle, Mexico City retains the magic of a people who experience F1 as a national holiday , and a circuit that, with every lap, reminds us how thin the line is between the limit and emotion.

The final straight seems to go on forever. The speedometer soars past 350kph, the Foro Sol wall recedes behind, and all you can hear in your headphones is your heartbeat. This circuit isn't just a track: it's an experience. A place where every breath is exhausting, but every curve is thrilling.