Hitting the Apex: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez

It’s Mexico Race Week! Read on for everything you need to know about the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Written by Mees Drijgers

October 27, 2023

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a motor racing circuit in Mexico City, Mexico. It is located within the public park of the Magdalena Mixhuca Sports City, and was therefore originally named the Magdalena Mixhuca-circuit, sitting at a length of around 5 kms and offering a number of different track layouts, including an oval. The circuit was opened in 1959 and joined the F1 calendar in 1963, after having hosted a non-Championship round the year before. The circuit was removed from the calendar in 1970. 16 years later, in 1986, the track returned to the calendar and was renamed after the famous Mexican F1 drivers and brothers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez. It was renovated and shortened to 4.4 kms, however in 1992 it was once again removed from the calendar. 

AlphaTauri on track at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (Photo via @alphataurif1 on Instagram)

For its return in 2015, the circuit layout had to be brought up to modern day standards, which was done by Hermann Tilke. They include a new sequence of corners at Turns 1, 2, and 3 to open the lap, “while the rest of the course was also substantially re-built and re-aligned, albeit following the general outline of the original course”. The Grand Prix was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but soon returned to the F1 calendar the year after. The Autódromo has also been the host to series other than F1, such as Formula E, which has raced here since 2016, and NASCAR.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Track distance: 4.304 km / 2.67 miles

  • DRS zones: 3

  • Corners: 17

  • Elevation: 2.8 metres

  • Laps: 71

  • Race lap record: 1:17.774 Valtteri Bottas (2021)

  • Direction: clockwise

Sebastian Vettel in 2022 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (Photo via @astonmartinf1 on Instagram)

According to F1.com, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez configuration for this year is as follows:

 

PREVIOUS TYRE COMPOUNDS

  • Selected compounds in 2022: C4 (soft) C3 (medium) C2 (hard)

  • Selected compounds in 2021: C4 (soft) C3 (medium) C2 (hard)

 

The most successful driver at the circuit is Max Verstappen with a total of 4 wins. Red Bull is the most successful constructor, having scored 4 wins. The pole position record at the track belongs to Jim Clark, who has scored 4 pole positions at this circuit.

Ferrari winding through the stadium at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (Photo via @scuderiaferrari on Instagram)

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is the highest circuit on the F1 calendar, sitting at over 2 kilometres above sea level. Today’s track layout still mainly follows the track’s original outline from 1959, however, nowadays the circuit winds through the Foro Sol baseball stadium.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

  • 2022 Max Verstappen

  • 2021 Max Verstappen

  • 2019 Lewis Hamilton

  • 2018 Max Verstappen

  • 2017 Max Verstappen

     

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mees was introduced to the world of F1 by one of her friends in July 2020 and hasn’t missed a race weekend since. Her favourite drivers are Alex Albon, Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri, and George Russell; outside of F1, she also actively supports Liam Lawson and Callum Ilott. She specialises in writing about F2, but is looking to specialise in FE and IndyCar as well, after starting to watch both series in 2022. After getting her Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Culture, she is currently getting MA degrees in Translation and English Literature & Culture. When she’s not watching motorsport, she’s either watching football matches (preferably Real Madrid), reading a book, or watching streams on Twitch.

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