You'll want to pack a bottle of water with you this weekend as we're set to spice things up with a trip to Mexico, one of the hottest stops on the calendar.

The Mexico City Grand Prix is a fiesta of fun both on and off the track, with massive crowds producing a vibrant atmosphere, and a track that's well above sea level providing a different type of challenge for those in the garage and out on the tarmac.

Regular readers of our preview will be well-aware of our love for food, and this week we're grabbing some tacos and tortillas and packing them full of delicious fillings. We'll start off with some words of wisdom from Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo and Team Principal Andreas Seidl, add a layer of juicy stats and a lashing of what to watch for. We've also got a guide on what to wear and a tasty competition.

Key info

What they say

"Mexico, it’s good to be back for the second year in a row! The circuit is a unique challenge with a high altitude and the fans in the baseball stadium section is an interesting feature of the track. I'm looking forward to getting back into the car this week after a great time in Austin. I’m sure the Mexican fans will be out in full force to create an amazing atmosphere like last year! As a team, we’re determined to pick up as many points as possible in the final three races of the season.”

"Buenos dias! I’m looking forward to heading to Mexico City this week as we enter the last three races of the year. The atmosphere at the track is electric, and the fans are always so passionate. It will be good to get back racing with the quick turnaround from Austin, as Sunday was a tricky race for me. It’s important we continue to keep working hard to get the rewards and finish the season strongly as a team.”

"Mexico is always an exciting event with a vibrant atmosphere created by the fans! The track in Mexico City can be challenging with high altitudes and thinner air, meaning the teams will run higher levels of downforce on their cars. Another challenge we have is managing this second race of a double-header but Lando, Daniel and the entire team are focused on pushing for points. We’re looking forward to another exciting race weekend.”

What the stats say

We're amongst the most successful teams in Mexico, tied on three wins with Williams, Mercedes and Red Bull. Lotus are the only team with more, although one of their four victories came during a non-championship round in 1962.

Our first win in Mexico came courtesy of Denny Hulme in 1969, with the New Zealander winning from fourth. The race didn't appear on the F1 calendar between 1971 and 1985 and our next victory came in 1988 when Alain Prost beat polesitter Ayrton Senna across the line. The Brazilian won the following year before another lengthy spell without a Mexican Grand Prix between 1993 and 2014.

Daniel has competed in every race since its return in 2015, taking a podium under unusual circumstances in 2016. The Australian crossed the line fifth before being promoted two places due to post-race penalties for Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel. The Honey Badger has also been a polesitter in Mexico, topping the qualifying timesheets in 2018. 

Lando's only got two races in Mexico under his belt but performed well in both, making considerable progress on his eighth-place start in 2019 before a cross-threaded wheel nut undone his and the team’s hard work.

On his second appearance, Lando started from the back after taking on new power unit components, but put on a heroic charge from 18th to 10th to earn us a point.

Session times

What to watch out for

Although our idea of Formula 1 becoming an Olympic sport is probably just a pipe dream, we can at least compete at ex-Olympic venues. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was opened in 1962 in the Magdalena Mixhuca Sports City, which hosted several Olympic events during the 1968 Summer Olympics.

This isn't even the venue's only sporting link: in the final section of the lap, drivers take a detour through an old baseball stadium, the Foro Sol, previously home to the Diablos Rojos del México.

For those of you that don't like heights, you might want to look away now: the circuit is 2285m above sea level, making it the highest point of the calendar. Although acrophobia (a fear of heights) isn't actually a genuine concern, the circuit's high altitude does affect the cars in several ways. Aerodynamics and cooling are both impacted, whilst the drivers must contend with there being less oxygen in the air.

The high altitude also has an influence over straight-line speed, with cars previously recording speeds of more than 320km/h down the 1.2km main straight as there are fewer air particles for the car to cut through.

Arriving after the slow-speed, high-kerbed stadium section, the run from the final corner to the first provides a key overtaking opportunity, whether it be capitalising on a mistake in the final sector or through sheer straight-line speed.

McLaren Creators

Every week, our social channels and the MTC post room are chock-a-block with amazing art pieces that our fans have created and sent to us. Going through them always warms our hearts, and so we wanted to share the love.

Whether you're a skilled sketcher, a budding paper mache artist, or prefer to paint by numbers, our new McLaren Creators segment will highlight our favourite pieces from our inspired fanbase.

This week we're spotlighting Jenna B McLean.

"I am an all-around creative and have a degree in Industrial Design. For my day job, I make immersive retail displays and fixtures. My husband and I live in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada, which means we are often getting up early to watch racing sessions!

"Ahead of going to my first ever grand prix in the Netherlands for my 30th birthday, I wanted to create a unique piece of merch I could wear to support my favourite team and driver. I made a pattern from the photos from the reveal of this year's McLaren car. I transferred this to my sweater and started embroidering. It took between 50-60 hours, but it was definitely worth it!"

What to wear

With 22 races this season, you might be running out of ways to mix up your favourite outfit, but a cap can be a great way to spruce things up. New Era has created a spicy Mexican-themed number for you that is adaptable enough to work in Brazil and Abu Dhabi as well. At the end of a long season, versatility is king. 

Plus one

Have you ever been to a museum and thought, 'this is great, but I wish I didn't have to leave my house?' Well, then our latest McLaren Plus competition is for you! Own your own slice of McLaren history with a framed race-worn top, signed by one of Lando or Daniel. Enter by clicking here.

Join the team

McLaren Plus is our free-to-join fan engagement programme, bringing McLaren fans closer to the team with the most inclusive, rewarding and open-to-all fan programmes in motorsport.

Sign up now, or current members can amend their details in the form below if necessary.