A Brief History of the Mexican Grand Prix

 

As Formula 1® brings us to the vibrant, mile-high metropolis of Mexico City, I always think this race is more than just a race; it's a world-class sports event. To celebrate the often chaotic history of the Mexican Grand Prix at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, we should embrace its unique character.

The Legacy of the Brothers

The story of this circuit, which sits over 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level, begins with tragedy and immense national pride.

This race track was built in 1959 and is named after Mexico's two lost racing prodigies: Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez.

Ricardo, the younger brother, was killed during practice for the first non-championship race held here in 1962, and Pedro also tragically lost his life nine years later while racing in Germany.

The first official F1 race took place in 1963, and the circuit quickly gained fame for its unique challenges: the thin air, which starved the early, naturally-aspirated engines of power, and the terrifying, high-speed, banked final corner, the Peraltada.

From Fan Invasion to Stadium Spectacle

The race's early run was marred by its own success. In 1970, a massive crowd of over 200,000 fans poured into the circuit, overwhelming the facility and climbing onto safety fences, forcing the race to be delayed.

F1® returned in 1986 to a redesigned, safer circuit. 

This period saw iconic moments like Nigel Mansell's famously daring overtake around the outside of the fearsome Peraltada in 1990—a move considered one of the bravest in F1® history.

However, the track's current magic was born with its primary return in 2015. Architect Hermann Tilke completely reimagined the final sector, routing the cars through the old baseball stadium, the Foro Sol.

This created F1®'s most unique vista, where thousands of passionate Mexican fans get an intimate, stadium-style view of the cars and make a deafening wall of sound for the podium ceremony.

And as always, when the lights go out and the drama unfolds, here at Senate Grand Prix, there is only one winner, and that's you, the race fans!