Formula One: Predicting the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix

The Formula One bandwagon has touched down in Mexico. The 18th round of the ongoing F1 Championship will take place at Autódromo Hermanos Rodrígue, Mexico City.

With four races to go, title race is all but secured by Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes. Let’s look at the past winner, the circuit specification and predict who will come up trumps.

Who won the 2018 Mexican Grand Prix?

In 2018, Max Verstappen got past his teammate and qualifying leader Daniel Ricciardo in the very first lap of the race. The Dutchman continued on his merry way and went on to win the race quite comfortably. This was his second Formula One victory of the season. 

Driver Championship leader, Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, finished in the fourth position, which was enough for him to claim the 2018 World Drivers' Championship with two rounds to go.

What are the pole positions for the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix?

Max Verstappen has taken the pole position at the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix. He will be followed by the ever improving Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel. 

The leading driver of the ongoing Drivers’ Championship, Lewis Hamilton will start the race from the fourth position.

What are the specifications of Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez?

First Grand Prix hosted: 1962

Total Laps: 71

Circuit length: 4.304 km

Race lap record: 1.18.741 (Valtteri Bottas, 2018)

2018 Belgian Grand Prix winner: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Number of corners: 17

What are the 2019 World Drivers’ Championship standings?

Lewis Hamilton has won nine out of the 17 races in the ongoing World Drivers’ Championship. The Englishman is currently leading the points table with a lead of 64 points. 

Valtteri Bottas is in the second position with 274 points, while Charles Leclerc is in the third position with 223 points.

Prediction for the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix?

Given their track record there and the fact that they have a car tailor-made for such surfaces, we can’t look past Max Verstappen and Red Bull racing in the Mexican Grand Prix. .

The circuit is 2250 meters above sea level, which makes it the highest track on the Formula 1 calendar. The conditions would lead to a decreased down-force which would in-turn lead to speeds of 370 km/h being easily achieved on the straights.

The conditions and the circuit layout will allow the Ferrari, which boasts the fastest car going around. They are also the form team with three wins in the past five grand Prixs this year. 

Red Bull Racing, on the other hand, has an excellent record at the venue. Max Verstappen is a two-time defending champion in Mexico and he has done his chances no harm by taking the pole in this year as well. They also have a high downforce car will also benefit from the dimensions of the circuit.

Mercedes are on a roll as they have already pocketed their sixth consecutive constructors’ championship at the Japanese Grand Prix. The Silver Arrows front-man, Hamilton needs to outscore his teammate, Bottas by fourteen or more points to clinch his sixth drivers’ championship in Mexico.

With three races races to go after this one, things can get heated in the title race as Bottas chases Hamilton. Although, given the conditions in Mexico and the pole positions, Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing and the two Ferraris are prime candidates for the win.

Cover image credits: Foxsports