Discover the high-altitude history and unique layout of Mexico City’s legendary circuit, where racing heritage meets modern safety standards at one of F1’s most iconic venues.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is the home of the Mexican Grand Prix and has hosted Formula 1 World Championship races since 1962. It is considered one of the most important circuits in the history of the top category in the Americas, and some of the sport's greatest legends, such as Ayrton Senna and Max Verstappen, have raced on its asphalt.
The circuit is located in the Ciudad Deportiva Magdalena Mixhuca, a mega sports complex situated in the eastern part of Mexico City. It has hosted 25 F1 races and other categories such as Formula E, NASCAR, and the CART Series; however, throughout Formula 1's three stints in Mexico City, the track layout has undergone significant changes to improve driver safety.
The last modification was made in 2015, when Formula 1 returned to Mexico with Sergio Pérez as its leading figure and representative of Latin America and the Spanish-speaking public in the United States. The driver born in Jalisco has become the best driver in history after accumulating victories with Red Bull Racing and achieving a runner-up position in the world championship, as well as the historic victory in the Monaco Grand Prix, something that few drivers have been able to do in history.
The designer was Óscar Fernández Gómez Daza, a student at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) who presented the lack of a racetrack in Mexico City as his thesis. The track measures 4,304 meters and has a total of 17 turns, four of which are named after drivers who have left their mark on the circuit.
Turns 1, 2, and 3 are called Ese Solana, after Moisés Solana, the third Mexican driver to race in Formula 1. Turn 6 is Recorte Rebaque, after Héctor Rebaque, the fourth Mexican to compete in the top category. Finally, Turn 12 is named after Adrián Fernández for his career in the CART Series in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Why is it called the Hermanos Rodríguez Racetrack?
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is named in honor of two Mexican Formula 1 racers who died in accidents while racing. Pedro Rodríguez, the father of the two Mexican drivers, was the project manager when construction of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez began in 1957.
Ricardo, the younger brother, died on the track in 1962, which led to the racetrack being named after him instead of the Magdalena Mixhuca Racetrack. In 1971, Pedro, the older brother, died. At that time, the President of Mexico, Luis Echeverría, decided to rename it Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in his honor.
