Mexico GP: Ruth Buscombe’s Pre-Race Analysis
Mexico City, 24 October 2024.- Ruth Buscombe is one of the most respected women in Formula 1. The British engineer currently serves as an analyst with the international F1 broadcaster (F1 TV), but she previously worked as an engineer for Ferrari, Haas F1 Team, and Sauber (Alfa Romeo). Ahead of the FORMULA 1 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX 2024 Presented by Heineken, she conducted an in-depth analysis of the potential strategies teams might employ this weekend.
Buscombe, who is well-versed with the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, having served as a strategist there for Ferrari in 2015 and Sauber from 2017 to 2023, points to Mexico City’s altitude as the most significant factor shaping race strategies.
High-Altitude Challenge
The Mexico GP presents a unique technical challenge compared to other circuits, owing to the track’s altitude, distinctive layout, and the effects of the city’s conditions on car performance and reliability.
Here, success demands careful management of aerodynamic balance, cooling systems, and power unit reliability to overcome the challenges of high altitude and high-speed demands. The track is situated at an altitude of almost 2,300 metres above sea level, and the reduced air density –around 25% lower compared to sea level– impacts aerodynamic drag while also dramatically reducing the downforce the cars can produce.
Long Straight and Slow Corners
The Mexico GP also features one of the longest straights in Formula 1, enabling cars to hit speeds over 350 km/h, even in a high downforce configuration. Therefore, engineers must find the right balance between maximising straight-line speed and maintaining cornering stability.
Overtaking Opportunities
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit offers several key overtaking zones, making it a thrilling venue for close battles. The most significant overtaking opportunities come in sections where long straights are followed by heavy braking points.
The long pits straight leading into turn 1 is the most prominent overtaking point with the aid of DRS. The combination of slipstreaming and DRS makes this the easiest place for drivers to mount an attack, especially with the hard braking required after prolonged acceleration in the straight.
After exiting turns 1, 2, and 3, drivers find the second DRS zone on a shorter straight heading towards turn 4, offering another key overtaking opportunity where DRS can provide a crucial speed advantage.
As drivers enter the GNP Seguros Stadium section, there is an additional, albeit less common, overtaking chance. Gaining a position here is rare but possible, particularly if the car ahead makes the smallest mistake as it approaches the corner.
Tyre Management
The reduced atmospheric pressure due to Mexico City’s high elevation also affects tyre wear. The track tends to produce moderate tyre degradation, allowing for longer stints, but engineers must keep a close eye on temperatures, as the reduced cooling for both cars and tyres can lead to overheating problems.
One-Stop Strategy
At the Mexico GP, teams will typically follow a one-stop race strategy, even with Pirelli supplying the softest tyres in their range. The C3 compound serves as the hard tyre, the C4 as the medium, and the C5 as the soft. Medium-hard or hard-medium strategies tend to be the most common choices.
The reduced downforce caused by the high altitude means cars generate less grip, reducing tyre stress and lowering wear. Additionally, the Mexican track surface is relatively smooth and not particularly abrasive, further contributing to reduced tyre degradation.
No Clear Favourite
Heading into the race weekend, it is possible that two, three, or even four teams could contend for victory. Given the unique, high-altitude layout, we often see gaps between teams and teammates narrow as a result of changes in downforce settings.
This is Ruth Buscombe’s take on what to expect at the FORMULA 1 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX 2024 Presented by Heineken. As with any race, nothing is set in stone, but one thing is certain: thousands of fans will experience the thrill and excitement of the F1ESTA this weekend.
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About CIE:
With its origins in 1990, Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento (“CIE”) (BMV: CIE) is a leading player in the Latin American out-of-home entertainment industry and has contributed in making Mexico a world-class destination in the field.
The company promotes and markets the FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MEXICO, produces events for the public sector, and operates the El Salitre Mágico amusement park in Colombia.
Through its strategic partnership with Live Nation at OCESA, it produces and promotes concerts, music festivals, Broadway-type theatrical and urban content productions, sporting, family and corporate events. It represents artistic talent, markets advertising rights and sponsorships, operates entertainment properties, the Citibanamex exhibition, congress and convention center, sells tickets through its Ticketmaster and Eticket platforms, and offers digital marketing and advertising services.
