29 October 2026 18:35 (UTC)
Thin air, cultural festivals, and valuable points on the line: the narratives to know as we head to the Mexican capital
For drama and passion, look no further than Mexico. Formula 1 heads to Latin America with the season edging ever closer to its conclusion and plenty still on the line.
The Mexico City Grand Prix has been a regular fixture on the calendar since 2015, and while the racing itself will capture the headlines, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez crowd will also be irresistible to the cameras, especially with a world-famous festival on the doorstep.
Here are five things to watch out for this weekend.
It was at the Mexico City Grand Prix in 2025 that Lando reclaimed first place in the Drivers’ World Championship – a position he never relinquished.
Lando was faultless in Qualifying, earning Pole position by almost three tenths of a second, before he swept all before him across 305km on track and took the Chequered Flag more than thirty seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.
He described it as ‘the best performance through a whole weekend’ of his career and will hope to create more memorable Mexican moments this weekend.
Drivers may well be used to the metaphorical heady heights of their sport, but in Mexico City, the altitude becomes a very literal factor in the race.
The circuit sits at roughly 2,238 metres above sea level, making it the highest-altitude track on the calendar by a significant distance. Air density is around 78% of what it is at sea level, and though temperatures are still mild, the lower atmospheric pressure affects the cars in a unique way.
Teams lose much of their downforce, and compensate by running maximum-downforce wing packages, though cars will still feel like they’re skating round the corners. The thin air does mean high speeds on the main straight, thanks to reduced drag, so prepare to see cars rocketing into Turn 1.
Elsewhere in the car, the turbocharged power units compensate for the thin air by spinning faster, putting greater stress on the machinery. And thinner air carries less heat, meaning brakes and electronics run much hotter than usual.
As for the drivers, altitude affects everybody differently, but physical effort can become much more challenging.
After a seventh and eighth place finish at the United States Grand Prix, we now sit level with Red Bull on 355 points with just five races to go and two wins apiece.
Lando, Oscar, and the team will be determined to reclaim third, with plenty of opportunities in these final five races. Every point from now until the end of the season will be crucial as we look to pip Red Bull to the final top three position. As we head into the season’s home straight, it is all to race for.
Over 400,000 people crammed into the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for each of the 2024 and 2025 races, creating an extraordinary wall of noise and waving flags.
The Mexico City Grand Prix has become one of the calendar’s most beloved races, known for its ‘fiesta’ atmosphere. Mexican sports fans are known worldwide for their extraordinary passion, whether it be football, lucha libre, or horse riding. Formula 1 is no different.
The track runs through the Foro Sol, a baseball stadium, giving the circuit a unique arena atmosphere. The autodrome’s proximity to the city centre only increases the feeling of being embedded within the local culture.
Adding to this weekend’s festivities is our special fan-inspired livery enhancement created in collaboration with BAT's brand Velo. Earlier this year, we invited the Papaya Family to share their most imaginative motorsport wishes and experiences as part of the Live Your Fandom campaign. We've turned a few of our favourites into bespoke sticker-style prints, which you’ll spot on both our race cars and in the garage over the weekend.
Mexico’s most famous festival will come to life, or death, as the Grand Prix falls on Day of the Dead weekend.
The festival blends ancient Mesoamerican traditions with Catholic observances, and while it commemorates lost friends and relatives, it does so in a joyful tone, celebrating the lives they led. Across Mexico, and increasingly around the world, people mark the occasion in costumes, masks and face paint.
Celebrations begin on 1 November, the day of the race, and continue overnight into 2 November. Expect to see extravagantly decorated skulls, face paint and marigold flowers as part of the celebrations in the stands.
