Mexico City Grand Prix Preview: Title fight begins to boil in final races
22nd October 2025Mexico City awaits Formula 1 following a dramatic shift in the drivers’ championship at the US Grand Prix. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez kicks off the final five races this season, with battles intensifying across the field.
Feature image credit: McLaren Racing
Max Verstappen remains the talk of the paddock yet again coming into this weekend, as the Dutch driver’s incredible championship comeback continued in the USA. Taking home a grand slam and reducing the gap to leader Oscar Piastri to just 40 points, Verstappen’s fine form shows no signs of slowing down in Mexico.
In contrast, rivals McLaren will be desperate for a return to winning ways, as it has now been four races since they last took the top spot. Oscar Piastri, in particular, will be looking to turn his form around, as it is now three races since his last podium.
The Australian has seen his championship lead more than halved since then, with a 34-point gap to teammate Lando Norris reduced to just 14.
Ferrari will be hoping to maintain their form from Austin, however, as Charles Leclerc scored the team’s first podium since the Belgium GP in July. An improved all-round performance from the Scuderia saw them push McLaren and Lando Norris all the way in America, narrowly missing out on second place.
Lewis Hamilton also returned home in a respectable P4, matching his best race finish for Ferrari on the weekend he became the first F1 driver to score over 5,000 career points. The Mexico GP also marks exactly one year since Ferrari last won in Formula One, as Carlos Sainz came home ahead of Lando Norris in a 1-3 for the team.
Further down the field, the Mexico City GP could prove decisive in the Racing Bulls/Red Bull driver drama. Dr. Helmut Marko suggested a decision on who will take the second Red Bull and RB seats would be made after Mexico, with Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda requiring a strong weekend to impress the Red Bull hierarchy.
The track at Mexico City poses some of the most unique challenges across the calendar, however. As the highest altitude circuit in 2025 at 2,200m above sea level, the track requires a high-downforce setup. This is despite also having the longest straight into Turn one, creating higher amounts of drag compared to other circuits.
It is set to be another hot weekend trackside, with temperatures reaching 25°C across all three days and there being no forecasted rain. As lower oxygen levels and high temperatures are expected, cooling could be an issue for all teams, whilst pushing the drivers to their physical limits.
The Mexico City GP begins with first practice on Friday starting at 19:30 (BST), before practice two takes place at 23:00. Saturday sees practice three begin at 18:30, followed by qualifying at 22:00. Finally, Sunday sees lights out at 20:00.
Read more Formula 1 here:
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- Carlos Sainz given five-place grid penalty for Mexico City Grand Prix
- Max Verstappen dominates victory at the United States Grand Prix
- United States Grand Prix will remain on F1 calendar until 2034
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