Peculiarly, the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, venue for this weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix, demands Monaco-level downforce settings despite its long, 1.2 kilometre main straight, where almost 10 seconds are spent at full throttle and speeds reach nearly 350Km/h.

At over 2,200 metres above sea level, the thin air drastically reduces aerodynamic efficiency as well as engine performance, creating one of the season’s most unusual technical challenges. Teams must run maximum wing levels just to claw back lost downforce. At the same time cooling can become critical.

Fortunately, mid-20-degree Celsius temperatures are expected, making a change from the “heat hazard” announced at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) last week.

As the 2025 Formula One title fight tightens, this round could prove pivotal. Max Verstappen, a five-time winner here, has momentum on his side after recent successes in Monza, Baku and COTA. Will McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri be able to stem the tide and create another twist in this year’s drivers’ title chase?

Ferrari, too, could be strong, despite Charles Leclerc saying it is unlikely. The Scuderia won in 2024 with Carlos Sainz, so anything is possible in F1.

Mercedes, meanwhile, will hope to improve on their COTA performance with the car being better able to accommodate Mexico’s demanding conditions. The circuit has been a happy hunting ground for the team in the past with then team driver Lewis Hamilton clinching his fourth and fifth world titles here in 2017 and 2018.

Adding a dash of local flavour, Mexican driver Patricio O’Ward (pictured) will make an FP1 appearance for McLaren in line with his continued reserve driver role. He is sure to electrify the scores of patriotic fans in the grandstands.