After an exhilarating weekend in Austin, Formula 1 is gearing up to continue the high-octane action with the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Key narratives to keep an eye on include:
Drivers’ Championship Clash
Max Verstappen, once the lone holdout, has now acknowledged, even during last weekend’s race, that he is right in the mix for the Drivers’ Championship. He claimed all 33 points available at the American Grand Prix, winning both the sprint and the main race.
Notably, Verstappen, who was trailing Oscar Piastri by 104 points and Lando Norris by 70 after the Dutch Grand Prix, now finds himself just 40 points behind Piastri and 26 behind Norris. While Piastri leads with 346 points, Verstappen and Norris have made significant gains, with Norris now just 14 points behind his teammate.
Piastri is ahead, Verstappen is gaining momentum, and team principal Andrea Stella remarked that Norris is performing at his peak levels. The ultimate winner remains uncertain, but as FIA President Mohamed Ben Sulayem mentioned in a recent chat with me—stay tuned for more on that later—it seems this three-way struggle will likely culminate in Abu Dhabi.
Mercedes, Ferrari, and Verstappen
Verstappen’s remarkable resurgence has transformed the championship into a three-way contest, similarly impacting the constructors’ standings.
Following the Hungarian Grand Prix, Ferrari led the standings with 260 points, while Mercedes trailed with 236 points, and Red Bull sat in fourth with 194 points.
Now, Mercedes holds the second spot with 341 points, closely followed by Ferrari at 334 points—just seven points apart.
In terms of Red Bull, Verstappen has scored 331 points this season—only 10 points shy of Mercedes and 4 points behind Ferrari. Remarkably, he has claimed 308 of those points himself.
Even if he doesn’t win a fifth title, Verstappen’s performance could secure a pivotal second-place finish for Red Bull in the constructors’ standings.
Seat Battles at Red Bull
Spend just a little time in the F1 paddock or the media area, and you’ll quickly get a sense of the dynamics at play regarding team rosters.
Last weekend in Austin, the competition for seats at Red Bull and Visa Cash App Racing was palpable.
With cameras and microphones tracking Yuki Tsunoda, Isaac Hajjar, and Liam Lawson wherever they went, the intensity was quite notable. (And, yes, expect to see a sportswriter in a pink shirt when Tsunoda addresses the media post-American Grand Prix in an upcoming episode).
Dr. Helmut Marko recently indicated that Red Bull will finalize a decision regarding a driver alongside Verstappen after the Mexico City race. This implies that this week might be the last opportunity for these drivers to secure a position in the top team.
During our chat in Austin, Lawson discussed the significance of each race weekend in F1.
“Honestly, every weekend is just as crucial as the last,” Lawson stated. “The sport evolves rapidly. A good weekend is valuable, but I think the memories in F1 are fleeting. It’s vital to remain consistent, yet every race weekend carries weight.”
Contrastingly, Hajar candidly admitted during a Thursday media session that he was unaware of the impending deadline in Mexico City.
“I didn’t know that,” Hajar remarked. “My focus remains unchanged.”
Three drivers vying for one seat at Red Bull, and they seem to have just about a week left to make their case.
This week also introduces a new element to the challenges teams and drivers face during every F1 event.
At an elevation of 7,349 feet (2,240 meters), Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez is the highest circuit on the F1 calendar. This presents unique challenges not only for the drivers and team personnel but also for the cars.
Competing at this altitude means cars experience lower air density, which leads to reduced downforce and drag. To achieve the necessary downforce for sharp turns, teams will typically use a high-downforce setup similar to that used in Monaco. Regardless, with the lower air pressure, speeds can still be among the fastest of the season, with Valtteri Bottas having set a record of 231.4 mph (372.5 km/h) at the 2016 Mexican Grand Prix.
However, the thin air also places stress on car components, such as tires and brakes, making cooling critical. To combat this, teams often modify the bodywork and ducting to enhance airflow over these key components.
Lastly, altitude impacts not only the cars but the drivers and crews as well. As noted by Williams last season:
At higher altitudes, human performance tends to decline due to thinner air. Drivers are the most evident example, but the entire team feels the effects. Fatigue sets in more swiftly at altitude, slowing strategic decisions, pit stops, repairs, and car adjustments.
Additionally, getting quality rest at high altitudes is challenging. Low oxygen levels hinder sleep quality, resulting in more frequent awakenings and difficulty falling asleep at all. Sleep-deprived drivers and team members may be more prone to errors, exacerbating the challenges of competing in such a demanding sport.
As the grid prepares for the upcoming race in Mexico City, there’s an additional layer of complexity to navigate.
