Touring Mexico City with Pato O'Ward

Again-to-back races in Austin and Mexico Metropolis present two particular venues with massive crowds, however the tracks couldn’t be extra completely different in character. At over 7,200 toes above sea degree, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a singular take a look at and our information to this weekend’s problem will likely be native hero Pato O’Ward, who will as soon as once more be competing in FP1 for McLaren.

“The primary factor is that the general downforce of the automotive is far decrease, so it will not really feel just like the automotive has the identical quantity of grip as regular. I feel the highest velocity may also be very excessive as a result of the air is just not as thick. Cooling will likely be a problem as a result of altitude, so the engine will battle to breathe somewhat extra.”

“However as for the monitor, it is numerous sluggish, tight and twisty stuff, with some very heavy braking zones and one very quick sector.

“For me, coming from an IndyCar background, it nonetheless feels very quick. For me, it would not really feel overwhelming. No, it is nonetheless fairly the alternative. It nonetheless seems like it will probably do much more than what I am used to. However it’s a very nice monitor.”

“I simply need to say to our followers, this can be a music the place we will actually thank everybody for coming, as a result of each part has its personal character. Everyone seems to be so vigorous and excited to be right here. Once we end the session and we get to the stadium part, we’ll positively wave as a result of that is one thing very particular.”

“So far as the necessary sections go, Turns 7 to 11 are very difficult as a result of you must belief the automotive. It’s a must to go into it and belief that the automotive will do it. However as we have seen, if you happen to’re grasping it is an space the place the automotive will chunk you. So I might say it is a part the place it is very simple to make or break a lap.

Sluggish, winding corners encourage aggression, however O’Ward warns that the hand is liable to overplay. Hector Vivas/Getty Pictures

“After that part is the tremendous sluggish stadium part, Foro Sol. It invitations you to push more durable and the grips aren’t there to do this. So I feel that is in all probability the worst a part of breaking a lap, as a result of if you happen to do every thing proper and also you screw up there, nicely, it isn’t going to be good. And that is in entrance of so many followers!

“I would not say the circumstances in FP1 are significantly powerful. Clearly, the rubber wears out over the weekend. However the weight and gasoline load additionally make an enormous enchancment in lap instances.”

“As a result of FP1, at the very least for us, is just not gentle gasoline in any respect, and we frequently change into extra conservative in our explorations. However as quickly as you begin decreasing the gasoline degree and begin placing extra energy into the engine, I feel the lap instances come robotically. I would not say the grip itself at low speeds is sort of a night-and-day distinction.

“When it comes to set-up, if you happen to’re operating very arduous, it is about how far you’ll be able to go earlier than the automotive begins to vibrate too aggressively. I feel it is a superb line as to how low you need to go. Are you dragging it an excessive amount of on the straights? As a result of the straights are so lengthy.

“So I feel there’s positively a superb line the place you do not simply go as little as you’ll be able to and push. There’s positively a state of affairs the place that is an excessive amount of. So we’ll must attempt that in P1 and that is going to be my job.”

“Actually, it isn’t essentially essentially the most downforce, so clearly it isn’t going to be like Monza. I do not know precisely what specs I am utilizing or have used at different circuits, however I do know I am making an attempt various things to Oscar (Piastri) by way of downforce, so we’ll see the place that takes us.”

At a look
Race distance: 71 laps/189.9 miles
2024 pole time: 1 minute 15.946 seconds (Carlos Sainz, Ferrari)
2024 winner: Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

Pirelli tire project: As was the case in Austin final weekend, the compound choice within the Mexico spherical diversified enormously between essentially the most troublesome of the three and the medium. As in 2024, medium and mushy will likely be C4 and C5 respectively, however arduous will likely be C2. On the Mexico Metropolis monitor, this compound is a really conservative selection and makes an enormous distinction by way of lap instances in comparison with the opposite two, but it surely additionally presents much less grip.

Final yr, the mushy was solely utilized in qualifying and races, with the only function of securing additional factors for setting the quickest lap of the race, however the state of affairs might change considerably sooner or later. Actually, the benefits gained from C4 and C5 might lead groups to primarily purpose to race on these compounds. Nevertheless, there’s a danger that degradation might require a second pit cease. Anybody who chooses the C2 will have the ability to handle lengthy stints with one cease on the best way to the checkered flag in relative consolation, albeit on the expense of efficiency.

Using the 2 softest compounds will definitely be rigorously evaluated through the three free follow periods, the place groups can run lengthy stints absolutely loaded with gasoline and test the situation of their tires. Traditionally in Mexico, grain ranges are very noticeable as a result of the air is thinner at excessive altitudes, decreasing the quantity of aerodynamic downforce a automotive can generate.

On tracks that have already got little grip on account of restricted use, tires have a tendency to slide, inflicting graining. It’s going to even be fascinating to see if the higher resistance to this phenomenon supplied by present compounds will assist restrict it and due to this fact profit tire administration gurus.