The Unique Challenge Of Mexico

This weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix provides a unique challenge for all F1 teams, and a challenge that could be very costly if managed incorrectly. 

Formula One arrives at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, a track that lies a whopping 7,300ft above sea level. At such an altitude, the air is very thin which has huge implications for F1 cars. 

The FIA estimates that the air density is reduced by 25% here, affecting the cars’ ability to generate downforce. Downforce is crucial in F1, pushing cars into the tarmac to increase cornering speeds and create better balance. Without it, F1 cars would understeer a ridiculous amount, and lap times would be significantly slower. 

The rarified air also means that there is less cooling of the engine components which could be a race-ending issue if left unaddressed. As a result, teams try to open their car outlets as much as possible, and the seemingly over-the-top number of sidepod cooling louvres is an amusing sight every year.

The cooling louvres encourage more air to flow through the sidepod radiators which increases the amount of engine cooling. More drill holes are often added to F1 brake discs for the Grand Prix weekend as well, another component that can easily overheat and cause a major failure. 

Less air is also supplied to the power unit itself which means a significant reduction in engine power, although the lower drag levels compensate for this effect. 

All in all, it is fair to say that Mexico City is a one-of-a-kind race location, and the engineers on the pit wall will have a tough job ensuring everything remains in its optimal state.