Mexico, History, Speed and Passion at the Hermanos Rodríguez

Formula 1 arrives in Mexico City to contest the nineteenth date of the 2026 season in one of the calendar's most distinctive races. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is distinguished not only by its atmosphere, with thousands of fans who turn every race into a celebration, but also by a history that crosses different eras of the category. From its first points-scoring World Championship race in 1963 to its definitive return in 2015, the circuit hosted great champions, decisive races, and transformations that changed its layout without erasing its identity.

The autodrome was built in 1959 within the Magdalena Mixiuhca sports complex, east of Mexico City. Engineer Oscar Fernández Gómez Daza developed the original project, proposing to use the site's existing roads to create a permanent circuit. The track received Formula 1 cars for the first time in 1962, for a non-points-scoring competition. The following year, Mexico officially entered the world championship calendar. The first title-deciding race was held in 1963, with Briton Jim Clark as winner, one of the era's great protagonists. The Lotus driver won again in 1967, while during the following years Dan Gurney, Richie Ginther and John Surtees also left their mark. Graham Hill won in 1968, when the Mexican Grand Prix became one of the traditional events of the season's close.

The circuit is named after two fundamental figures in Mexican motorsport, Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez. Both brothers competed at the highest international level and became icons of their country's sport. Ricardo, the younger, debuted with Ferrari in Formula 1 as a teenager and was considered one of the most promising talents of his generation. His death during the practice of a non-points-scoring race in Mexico in 1962 shocked motorsport. Pedro continued his international career and won two Formula 1 races, including the 1967 South African Grand Prix. In 1973, the autodrome officially received the brothers' name as a tribute to their legacy.

The first Formula 1 race in Mexico concluded after the 1970 race. Safety concerns and the difficulty of controlling the crowd around the circuit led to its removal from the calendar. The category returned in 1986, after a series of improvements to the facilities and safety conditions. The return saw Austrian Gerhard Berger as the protagonist, winning the 1986 edition with Benetton. In the following years, the circuit once again hosted the category's biggest names, with triumphs by Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, and Ayrton Senna. In 1990, Mansell starred in one of the era's most remembered images when he overtook Berger on the outside of the fast Peraltada corner. That maneuver became a reference in the Grand Prix's history.

However, safety demands and the difficulty of adapting the layout to Formula 1's needs kept Mexico out of the championship again after 1992. For more than two decades, the country remained off the calendar, though the local fanbase never lost its connection to the category.

The return materialized in 2015, after a deep renovation of the autodrome. The pits and facilities were modernized, safety measures were improved, and parts of the layout were modified to meet contemporary Formula 1 standards. The track once again hosted a world championship race, with Nico Rosberg taking victory on a weekend that marked the start of a new stage for Mexican motorsport.

Since then, the Grand Prix has become one of the season's most crowded and recognizable events. Lewis Hamilton won in 2016 and 2019, while Max Verstappen dominated the recent era, winning in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023. In 2024, Carlos Sainz established himself at Ferrari, and in 2025, Lando Norris beat Charles Leclerc and Verstappen to win for McLaren.

But the Hermanos Rodríguez isn't defined solely by its winners. Its main technical feature is the altitude: the circuit sits at about 2,285 meters above sea level. The less dense air affects both aerodynamics and engine and cooling performance. Because the air is less dense, the cars lose some of the grip they normally get in the corners, even when teams use high-load configurations to compensate.

This characteristic also challenges cooling systems and component thermal management. With less air available, teams must find ways to keep temperatures under control without significantly compromising performance. That is why a car that competes well on other circuits may need significant adjustments to function properly in Mexico.

The current layout is 4.304 kilometers, with 17 corners and a total distance of 305.354 kilometers over 71 laps. One of its most recognizable sectors is the long main straight, which exceeds 800 meters from the grid to the first braking zone. There, drivers can use the slipstream to attempt overtakes, making the start and first corners some of the most important moments of the race.

Another distinctive element is the section that crosses the old Foro Sol baseball stadium, now integrated into the route as a slow-corner zone lined with grandstands. In that sector, cars slow down, and drivers pass almost through the middle of the crowd. The combination of engine noise, packed stands, and the cars' proximity creates one of the most distinctive images of Formula 1.

The most important modification to the historical layout was the transformation of the Peraltada, the fast corner that closed the lap before the main straight. With the construction of the Foro Sol in that zone, the circuit began using a sequence of corners that crosses the stadium and rejoins the original layout. The Peraltada was no longer driven as in its first decades, but its name remains linked to the autodrome's identity.

The 2026 edition also brings a sporting story defined by the championship. Kimi Antonelli lands in Mexico after his Austin victory and a 123-point lead over George Russell, with five races remaining. The Italian could be crowned this weekend if the necessary mathematical conditions are met. He would become the fifth driver to win his world title on Mexican soil. The previous winners were John Surtees in 1964, Denny Hulme in 1967, Graham Hill in 1968, and Lewis Hamilton, the only one on the list to win twice, in 2017 and 2018.

On a track where starting position, tire management, and cooling can be deciding factors, the margin for error is smaller. The altitude forces teams to adapt their cars, while the long straight and heavy braking create opportunities to change positions. The challenge isn't just about finding speed; it's about getting each component to work in conditions very different from those of most circuits on the calendar.

More than six decades after its first World Championship race, Mexico preserves a special place in Formula 1. The legacy of the Rodríguez brothers, the history of its champions, the layout's modifications, and the atmosphere of the Foro Sol shape an identity that goes far beyond the results. In 2026, with Antonelli facing a decisive championship opportunity, the Hermanos Rodríguez once again becomes the setting for a story that could add another memorable chapter.