If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you mix thin air, 200,000 screaming fans, and a grid full of egos sharper than the Peraltada’s old banking, look no further than the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is not just a racetrack—it’s a crucible where legends are forged, dreams combust, and the odd championship is decided by a single, cruel twist of fate. As we approach the 2025 edition, let’s take a stroll—no, a sprint—through the most memorable, emotional, and downright dramatic moments that have unfolded in the rarefied air of Mexico City.
- The Birth of a Legend and a Tragedy (1962–1964)
- The Peraltada: Where Heroes Are Made (and Sometimes Broken)
- The Return: New Heroes, Old Drama (1986–1992, 2015–Present)
- Chaos, Controversy, and Championship Deciders
- The Homecoming: Sergio Pérez and the Roar of a Nation
- Modern Mayhem: Verstappen, McLaren, and the 2020s
- The Numbers Game: Who Rules in Mexico?
- Altitude Sickness: The Technical Challenge
- The Modern Title Fight: 2025 and Beyond
The Birth of a Legend and a Tragedy (1962–1964)
The story of the Mexican Grand Prix begins, as all good F1 tales do, with a cocktail of triumph and tragedy. The inaugural non-championship race in 1962 was overshadowed by the death of local hero Ricardo Rodríguez, whose fatal crash at the Peraltada corner left a nation in mourning and gave the circuit its enduring name: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The following year, Formula 1 arrived in earnest, and Jim Clark took the win, but the real fireworks were yet to come.
The 1964 race is the stuff of legend—a title decider so chaotic it would make even Netflix’s Drive to Survive blush. Three drivers—John Surtees, Graham Hill, and Jim Clark—arrived with a shot at the championship. Clark led until his engine expired on the final lap, Hill was punted by Lorenzo Bandini, and Surtees, with a little help from Ferrari team orders, snatched the title by a single point. As the dust settled, Surtees became the only man to win world championships on both two and four wheels.
The Peraltada: Where Heroes Are Made (and Sometimes Broken)
If you want to understand the soul of the Mexico City Grand Prix, look no further than the Peraltada. This fearsome, 180-degree, banked right-hander has been the scene of both glory and disaster. In 1990, Nigel Mansell pulled off what many still call the greatest overtake in F1 history, sweeping around Gerhard Berger on the outside at full chat. Alain Prost, starting 13th, won that day, but it was Mansell’s audacity that stole the headlines—and the collective breath of everyone watching.
Watch the drama for yourself:
Five Of The Very Best Battles From The Mexico City Grand Prix (YouTube)
But the Peraltada has also been unforgiving. In 1987, Derek Warwick’s crash there split the race in two, and in the turbo era, the bumps and pollution made the circuit a test of both man and machine. When Formula 1 left Mexico after 1992, it was as much a sigh of relief as a lament.
The Return: New Heroes, Old Drama (1986–1992, 2015–Present)
After a 16-year absence, F1 returned to Mexico in 1986. Gerhard Berger took his and Benetton’s maiden win with a no-stop strategy—a gamble that paid off in the thin air, where tire wear is as unpredictable as the local weather. The late ’80s and early ’90s saw McLaren dominance, Prost and Senna trading blows, and Riccardo Patrese and Mansell giving Williams fans something to cheer about.
But it was the modern era, post-2015, that truly revived the fiesta. The circuit was reprofiled, the stadium section added, and the fans—oh, the fans—turned every podium into a national holiday. The high altitude continued to play havoc with engines and cooling, making every race a strategic minefield.
Chaos, Controversy, and Championship Deciders
2016: The Stewards’ Siesta
If you like your F1 with a side of controversy, the 2016 race delivered in spades. Verstappen, Vettel, and Ricciardo engaged in a last-lap brawl for the podium. Verstappen cut a corner defending from Vettel, was penalized, and Vettel was promoted—only to be penalized himself for moving under braking, handing the podium to Ricciardo after the flag. The stewards’ room was busier than a taco stand at midnight.
2017: Hamilton’s Fourth Title—By a Whisker
The 2017 edition saw Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel collide on lap one, both limping to the pits. Hamilton finished ninth, but it was enough to secure his fourth world title. The race was won by Verstappen, but the headlines belonged to Hamilton’s resilience—and the fact that, sometimes, you don’t need to win to be a champion.
The Homecoming: Sergio Pérez and the Roar of a Nation
No recounting of Mexico City’s drama would be complete without mentioning Sergio “Checo” Pérez. For decades, the Rodríguez brothers were the local icons, but in the 21st century, Pérez became the face of Mexican motorsport. In 2021, he became the first Mexican to lead laps at his home Grand Prix, and in 2022, he stood on the podium, sending the Foro Sol stadium into delirium.
It was an unbelievable weekend from start to finish for Max, but the crowd was all for Checo.
The stadium section, once a baseball diamond, now hosts the most raucous podium celebrations in F1. If you ever doubted the power of home support, watch the sea of Mexican flags and try not to get goosebumps.
Modern Mayhem: Verstappen, McLaren, and the 2020s
The last few years have seen the Mexico City Grand Prix become a pivotal battleground in the championship. Max Verstappen, now the most successful driver at the venue, has made the circuit his own, with five wins to his name. The 2024 race saw Carlos Sainz Jr. take pole and victory for Ferrari, with Norris and Leclerc rounding out the podium—a reminder that, in Mexico, nothing is ever certain.
For a taste of recent drama, check out the 2024 highlights:
Race Highlights | 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix (YouTube)
And if you want to see the unseen, here’s a behind-the-scenes look:
All the unseen moments from Mexico City! (YouTube)
The Numbers Game: Who Rules in Mexico?
Let’s take a quick look at the stats that matter:
| Year | Winner | Team | Notable Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Dan Gurney | Brabham | Surtees wins title by 1 point |
| 1986 | Gerhard Berger | Benetton | First win for Berger & Benetton |
| 1990 | Alain Prost | Ferrari | Mansell’s legendary overtake |
| 2016 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | Podium chaos, penalties galore |
| 2017 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Hamilton clinches 4th title |
| 2021 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Pérez leads laps, Verstappen dominates |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Pérez podium, Verstappen record win |
| 2024 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Ferrari | Sainz pole and win, Norris P2 |
Source: Wikipedia – Mexican Grand Prix
Altitude Sickness: The Technical Challenge
Racing at over 2,200 meters above sea level is not for the faint of heart—or the weak of engine. The thin air means less downforce, less cooling, and more headaches for engineers. Engines gasp for oxygen, brakes overheat, and tires behave like they’re on a different planet. It’s no wonder that strategy often trumps outright speed in Mexico.
As one recent preview put it:
Mexico’s altitude means engines breathe less efficiently and cars run maximum wing to compensate. Downforce levels are high, but drag is low, creating a unique performance mix.
The Modern Title Fight: 2025 and Beyond
As of October 2025, the championship battle is as tight as it’s ever been. Verstappen, once trailing by over 100 points, has clawed his way back into contention against the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The ghosts of 2007—when McLaren’s infighting handed the title to Kimi Räikkönen—loom large. Will history repeat itself, or will Mexico once again be the stage for a title twist?
