Official 2019 Mexican Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***
Discussion
Formula 1 crosses from east to west with the 2019 World Driver’s Championship on the verge of being sewn up; Lewis will be crowned WDC for the sixth time if he secures 14 more points than Bottas in the Mexican Grand Prix.
If Hamilton wins the race and picks up the fastest lap bonus point, Bottas would need to place on the podium to prevent Hamilton taking the title.
It will be interesting to see whether Vettel can beat Leclerc in qualifying again. Max always goes well here, and it will be be good to see how the Honda engine goes at altitude. Other than that, it’s sadly not a great circuit and interest can be a bit thin.
Date(s): Friday 25 October 2019 - Sunday 27 October 2019
UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)
All sessions are live on Sky F1; race and Qualifying highlights are on Channel 4:
Live timing for all sessions available here:
https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.html
Lap times, PU component use, technical reports and Stewards' decisions for the weekend will appear here:
https://www.fia.com/championship/events/fia-formul...
Weather forecast:
http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/Mexico/Auto...
Tyre Choices:
2018 Qualifying Result:
2018 Race Result:
2018 race highlights:
https://youtu.be/d1-VK12FZhs
Last year, the champagne in Mexico City went to Max Verstappen, the Dutchman driving an exemplary race to repeat his 2017 victory at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. But while it was a fifth race win for Verstappen, it was a fifth title win for Lewis Hamilton, the British driver’s fourth place enough to see him crowned champion with two races to go, becoming only the third ever driver, behind Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher, to claim five world championships.
Verstappen’s win was arguably the most polished of his career so far. He was incisive off the line to pip his pole-sitting team mate Daniel Ricciardo before enjoying a mostly lonely race out at the front of the field.
If Hamilton wins the race and picks up the fastest lap bonus point, Bottas would need to place on the podium to prevent Hamilton taking the title.
It will be interesting to see whether Vettel can beat Leclerc in qualifying again. Max always goes well here, and it will be be good to see how the Honda engine goes at altitude. Other than that, it’s sadly not a great circuit and interest can be a bit thin.
Date(s): Friday 25 October 2019 - Sunday 27 October 2019
UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)
All sessions are live on Sky F1; race and Qualifying highlights are on Channel 4:
Live timing for all sessions available here:
https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.html
Lap times, PU component use, technical reports and Stewards' decisions for the weekend will appear here:
https://www.fia.com/championship/events/fia-formul...
Weather forecast:
http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/Mexico/Auto...
Tyre Choices:
2018 Qualifying Result:
2018 Race Result:
2018 race highlights:
https://youtu.be/d1-VK12FZhs
Last year, the champagne in Mexico City went to Max Verstappen, the Dutchman driving an exemplary race to repeat his 2017 victory at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. But while it was a fifth race win for Verstappen, it was a fifth title win for Lewis Hamilton, the British driver’s fourth place enough to see him crowned champion with two races to go, becoming only the third ever driver, behind Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher, to claim five world championships.
Verstappen’s win was arguably the most polished of his career so far. He was incisive off the line to pip his pole-sitting team mate Daniel Ricciardo before enjoying a mostly lonely race out at the front of the field.
mk1coopers said:
I would have thought that Lewis and Liberty would prefer the Championship was won at the US GP, better publicity for the sponsors, more mainstream media cover, etc etc, unless there are a strange set of circumstances I can't see it being decided this weekend
Only mathematically speaking. In reality, everyone knows who will be champion this year.Has anyone done the "reverse calculation" to see how Bottas can win the Championship?
64 points to make up, with 104 points available.
1st + Fastest Lap in every race for Bottas means Hamilton has to have at least one DNF + lower than 3rd in the other races.
If there's no DNF then Hamilton can come in 5th at each of the remaining four races
In theory the two Ferraris should be nailed on for 1-2 at every remaining race and the Red Bulls have fresher engines (having taken penalties two races ago).
Is there any chance that Ferrari might look to help Bottas put an end to Hamilton's streak, protecting their legacy of being the only team to have had a "7 times WDC" [*]? If Bottas was allowed through by the Ferrari duo while Hamilton was held back, we may yet see the race go to Abu Dhabi (which is arguably best for Liberty and the sponsors - viewing figures will definitely fall off after the championship is officially over whereas at the moment there is still potential to spin it as "greatest fightback ever".
[*] I know that technically two of Schumacher's titles were with Benetton but from a marketing perspective it's "Schumacher wins his 7th WDC with Ferrari".
64 points to make up, with 104 points available.
1st + Fastest Lap in every race for Bottas means Hamilton has to have at least one DNF + lower than 3rd in the other races.
If there's no DNF then Hamilton can come in 5th at each of the remaining four races
In theory the two Ferraris should be nailed on for 1-2 at every remaining race and the Red Bulls have fresher engines (having taken penalties two races ago).
Is there any chance that Ferrari might look to help Bottas put an end to Hamilton's streak, protecting their legacy of being the only team to have had a "7 times WDC" [*]? If Bottas was allowed through by the Ferrari duo while Hamilton was held back, we may yet see the race go to Abu Dhabi (which is arguably best for Liberty and the sponsors - viewing figures will definitely fall off after the championship is officially over whereas at the moment there is still potential to spin it as "greatest fightback ever".
[*] I know that technically two of Schumacher's titles were with Benetton but from a marketing perspective it's "Schumacher wins his 7th WDC with Ferrari".
Flooble said:
Is there any chance that Ferrari might look to help Bottas put an end to Hamilton's streak, protecting their legacy of being the only team to have had a "7 times WDC" [*]? If Bottas was allowed through by the Ferrari duo while Hamilton was held back, we may yet see the race go to Abu Dhabi (which is arguably best for Liberty and the sponsors - viewing figures will definitely fall off after the championship is officially over whereas at the moment there is still potential to spin it as "greatest fightback ever".
Ferrari can't even control what their own two drivers do, let alone influencing another team in that way.
One to look forward too, Monaco type downforce package on a high speed track 
Engine HP/KW advantage is somewhat negated, Downforce vs (lower) Drag this weekend, and tactics will play a huge part, (as will an almost certain SC/VSC).
Ferrari, both drivers out of the WDC (as are Ferrari out of the WCC), gloves off I think.....
Red Bull, Max is being out scored by Alex (since his arrival), the car is hard to get set up, and not great over curbs, can't see this going as well as previous years.
Mclaren, in there own race it would seem at times, Carlos staking his claim to be the best driver outside of the top teams, Lando too driving very well.
Renault, well I can only imagine where the netflix crew will be this weekend, one Driver dumped, the other somewhat underperforming, probably the slipperiest car in the paddock, could be quick, top 3 quick....
Hass, run plenty of downforce should be race quick this weekend.
Racing point, plenty of upgrades of the last few weekends, car looks good, the drivers need to stay out of trouble for points.
Toro Rosso, cars looking great, Gasly much more at home, and racing well, perhaps a top 8 finish for one of them.
Alfa, seem to have fallen off a cliff recently, can't see them improving.
Williams, well they will be there at least.
Oh and Mercedes, hopefully they will let them race independently, Valtteri has done a fine job this year (3 wins 13 podiums), but alas, I feel it will Hamiltons 10th (!) victory this season, and wrap up a 6th WDC at the same circuit he wrapped up his 4th and 5th WDC.
Engine HP/KW advantage is somewhat negated, Downforce vs (lower) Drag this weekend, and tactics will play a huge part, (as will an almost certain SC/VSC).
Ferrari, both drivers out of the WDC (as are Ferrari out of the WCC), gloves off I think.....
Red Bull, Max is being out scored by Alex (since his arrival), the car is hard to get set up, and not great over curbs, can't see this going as well as previous years.
Mclaren, in there own race it would seem at times, Carlos staking his claim to be the best driver outside of the top teams, Lando too driving very well.
Renault, well I can only imagine where the netflix crew will be this weekend, one Driver dumped, the other somewhat underperforming, probably the slipperiest car in the paddock, could be quick, top 3 quick....
Hass, run plenty of downforce should be race quick this weekend.
Racing point, plenty of upgrades of the last few weekends, car looks good, the drivers need to stay out of trouble for points.
Toro Rosso, cars looking great, Gasly much more at home, and racing well, perhaps a top 8 finish for one of them.
Alfa, seem to have fallen off a cliff recently, can't see them improving.
Williams, well they will be there at least.
Oh and Mercedes, hopefully they will let them race independently, Valtteri has done a fine job this year (3 wins 13 podiums), but alas, I feel it will Hamiltons 10th (!) victory this season, and wrap up a 6th WDC at the same circuit he wrapped up his 4th and 5th WDC.
It's not likely to be a Mercedes track. They had cooling issues (thin air won't help that); are down on electrical output compared with Ferrari (electric deployment even more important as ICE output will be down owing to low air density) and are already draggier than Ferrari before they start cranking on the downforce.
I think 3/4 is the best that Mercedes can hope for, depending on how Red Bull do.
I think 3/4 is the best that Mercedes can hope for, depending on how Red Bull do.
Great article here from F1.com, Mark Hughes, on the challenges of Mexico..
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.tech-tu...
& James Allison on the challenges of Mexico (from last yr)..
https://streamable.com/ntu2g
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.tech-tu...
& James Allison on the challenges of Mexico (from last yr)..
https://streamable.com/ntu2g
& looks like there's a live broadcast of all sessions on Twitch.. (selected countries).
https://twitter.com/F1Media/status/118697632227235...
https://twitter.com/F1Media/status/118697632227235...
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