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- Mexico City is approximately 7,350 feet above sea level – that’s 1.4 miles. In comparison, Austin, Texas – where the last Grand Prix was held – is less than 300 meters above sea level.
- Racing in the thin air of Mexico City means the turbo has to work harder compared to sea level to achieve the same level of performance
- Put simply, there is less downforce. However, this thinner air means less air resistance, so that the highest straight-ahead speeds of the season can be achieved despite the large wings.
There are only five races left in this year’s Formula 1 championship, and both the drivers ‘and constructors’ titles can truly be won.
Max Verstappen is 12 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton, with 133 points left, while Mercedes is just 23 points ahead of Red Bull Racing in the F1 constructors’ championship.
This week’s race is literally a lot of drama for the participants. After a year of absence, Formula 1 returns to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. The layout of the track, while not the most spectacular or impressive, has a unique and influential quality to it.
It’s over 7,350 feet above sea level – that’s about 2.4 miles. In comparison, Austin, Texas – where the last Grand Prix was held – is less than 300 meters above sea level.
That means the air in Mexico City is nearly 25 percent thinner compared to sea level in Mexico City. That affects people (and anyone who’s tried to train in Mexico City can agree) and it also has an impact on technology.
Due to COVID-19, this is the first Formula 1 trip to Mexico City since 2019.
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The aggregates have the greatest impact. The current Formula 1 engines are very filigree and complex, but due to the high altitude, the turbo not only has to lose power, as would be the case with a naturally aspirated engine, it also has to work harder than sea level to achieve the same level of power. And since every power unit manufacturer has its own intricate designs, the height impact must be handled differently, which affects performance.
The turbos turn faster, but they also have a limit that brings reliability into play. There is a risk of higher temperatures that affect other areas of the car in addition to the engine, such as the transmission, brakes and other systems. As a result, a body with increased cooling is required, including larger brake ducts. But even cooling is more difficult because it’s about 25 percent less effective compared to normal, and the larger the body opening, the more it is likely to detract from raw speed.
The thinner air also has an impact on aerodynamic performance. Using a large-sized rear wing for maximum downforce, as typically found in Monaco or Singapore, only creates a level of grip in Monza, where the thin wings are often used. Put simply, there is less downforce. However, this thinner air means less air resistance, so that the highest straight-ahead speeds of the season can be achieved despite the large wings.
The low downforce also means drivers are battling for grip, with cars being particularly prone to feeling shy in the middle portion of the lap. Drivers previously suffered from tire grit and excessive wear as a result of missing the optimal window due to Mexico City’s unique setup requirements, while track temperatures can also be relatively higher. DRS is also less effective, while cars are more prone to overheating when following another car. All of this poses a major challenge for teams.
“Mexico is so different because of the altitude,” says Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. “So there are different aero options. The engines are under pressure quite differently. But we love Mexico City, you feel very welcome in Mexico and I only have positive memories. I think we have to start right on Friday and understand the car, then develop a bit and then we’ll be able to fight for victory. “
Historically, Mexico City has not been one of the strongest venues for Mercedes. While Hamilton was victorious in 2019, it was Verstappen who took pole position before a starting penalty. In both 2017 and 2018, Verstappen, whose Red Bull was driven by Renault at the time, made dominant appearances in the seasons in which it had the third-fastest car. It has led to proposals that Red Bull sit in the pound places for 2021.
Lewis Hamilton won in Mexico City in 2019.
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However, the front runners emphasize that the current shape is no guarantee of future success.
“Mexico has been a good track in the past and Brazil has been, but this year it’s so close between the two teams,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. “In between there is a maximum of one or two tenths [us] at every race, so I don’t understand why it will be any different in Mexico. You have to throw away the form book. You have to attack. 12 points are nothing and can go away very quickly as we saw before. So we have to attack the race weekends as before and make the most of them. “
Following Mexico is Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the second highest route on the calendar in terms of altitude, at around 2,600 feet, and where Red Bull won on Formula 1 last visit in 2019 in a bizarre clash with the lapped Esteban Ocon.
How the teams master the challenges at great heights in the next races will shape the run-in over the final trio of events in the Middle East.
There are only five rounds left in this year’s Formula 1 championship, and both titles can truly be won.
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