2022 F1 Mexican Grand Prix Preview

The 2022 Formula One World Championship will host its 20th race this weekend at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico.

Officially called the Mexico City Grand Prix, this annual race takes place on a 2.7-mile circuit located at an elevation of nearly 7,500 feet (9,000 meters). The thin air density places a greater burden on the engines, making adequate cooling and downforce generation a greater challenge. With the return of ground effects this season, the situation should change a bit.

Although the name and layout of the circuit has changed over the years, the Mexican race has always been held at this circuit. The latest updates were made before the Mexican Grand Prix returned to the F1 calendar in 2015, with renowned circuit designer Hermann Tilke in charge of fine-tuning the design.

The current layout consists of a long straight, a mixed intermediate sector, and a final section that includes the famous Peraltada. This layout is also known for having the longest distance from the starting line to the braking point of the first corner at 2,660 feet. Top speeds are among the highest this season, with some cars reaching 230 mph on the first long straight.

In Mexico, temperatures vary widely, even within a few hours during the day, which affects the grip level of the tires. As was the case at last weekend's U.S. GP, Pirelli has chosen white hard tires for the middle C2, yellow medium tires for C3, and red soft tires for C4.

The weather is problematic, with both warm conditions and heavy rain possible. The current forecast calls for rain for both Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race.

Going into the weekend, Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen leads with 391 points. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari is second with 267 points and Sergio Perez of Red Bull is third with 265 points. In the constructors' championship, Red Bull has 656 points, Ferrari 469 points, and Mercedes-Benz AMG 416 points. Last year's winner of the Mexican Grand Prix was Red Bull's Verstappen.

Note that Verstappen has already been named world champion for 2022 at the Japanese Grand Prix on October 9, and Red Bull already won the constructors' title at last weekend's U.S. Grand Prix.