Mexican Grand Prix facts for kids
| Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (1986–1992, 2015–2019, 2021–present) |
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| Race information | |
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| Number of times held | 25 |
| First held | 1962 |
| Most wins (drivers) |  Max Verstappen (5) |
| Most wins (constructors) |  Red Bull Racing (5) |
| Circuit length | 4.304 km (2.674 mi) |
| Race length | 305.354 km (189.738 mi) |
| Laps | 71 |
| Last race (2024) | |
| Pole position | |
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| Podium | |
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| Fastest lap | |
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The Mexican Grand Prix (Spanish: Gran Premio de México) is an exciting car race held in Mexico City. It takes place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit. This race is also known as the Mexico City Grand Prix (Spanish: Gran Premio de la Ciudad de México).
The event first started in 1962. It became a championship race for Formula One from 1963 to 1970, and again from 1986 to 1992. The Grand Prix made a big comeback in 2015 at the same Mexico City track. It has been held every year since then, except for 2020. That year, the race was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The circuit is set to host the race until 2028.
Contents
Race History
Early Years: Magdalena Mixhuca (1962–1970)
The first Mexican Grand Prix happened on November 4, 1962. It was held at the Magdalena Mixhuca circuit. This track was Mexico's first international race circuit. Like the Monza track in Italy, it was built inside a park in a big city.
The Mexico City track was special because it was very high up, about 2,240 meters (7,340 feet) above sea level. This made it harder for the cars to get enough air. The track also had a long, fast, and slightly banked corner called Peraltada. The circuit was often bumpy because the ground underneath it moved. The Mexican Grand Prix during this time was always the last race of the Formula One season, held in late October.
The first race was not part of the championship. It was won by Team Lotus with Jim Clark. Sadly, a young Mexican driver named Ricardo Rodríguez died in a practice crash on the Peraltada corner.
The Formula One World Championship came to Mexico the next year. Jim Clark won again in 1963. In 1964, the championship was decided in Mexico. Three British drivers, Clark, John Surtees, and Graham Hill, could all win the title. John Surtees finished second and won the championship by just one point.
In 1965, American driver Richie Ginther won for Honda. This was Honda's first ever win in Formula One. Jim Clark won his third Mexican Grand Prix in 1967. This made him the driver with the most wins at this race for a long time.
The 1968 race was another exciting championship decider. Graham Hill won the race and his second world championship. By 1970, too many fans were coming to the race. About 200,000 people showed up, making it hard for officials to control the crowd. The race even started an hour late. During the race, a dog ran onto the track and was hit by a car. Fans also threw bottles onto the track. Because of these crowd problems, the race was stopped after 1970.
Return to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (1986–1992)
After a long break, the Mexican Grand Prix returned in 1986. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit was rebuilt and made safer. The Peraltada corner was changed to be less steep.
In 1986, Austrian driver Gerhard Berger got his first Formula One win here. The track was still very bumpy. The 1987 race was stopped halfway through because of a big crash. Nigel Mansell won the race based on combined times.
The race moved to May in 1988. French driver Alain Prost won easily for McLaren. His teammate, Ayrton Senna, won in 1989. In 1990, Prost, now with Ferrari, started 13th but drove brilliantly to win the race. Mansell finished second.
In 1991, Senna had a bad crash at the Peraltada corner during practice. He was okay to race and finished third. Drivers often complained about how bumpy the track was. For 1992, the race moved to March. Mexico City also had serious air pollution problems. Even with some track improvements, the bumps were still very bad. Senna had another big crash in practice, but he was able to race. Because of the track's condition and the city's growing problems, Formula One left Mexico again after 1992.
Race Break (1993–2014)
The Mexican Grand Prix did not happen for many years. There were talks about bringing it back. In 2003, there were rumors of a new track near Cancún. In 2005, plans for a 2006 race were stopped. In 2006, Bernie Ecclestone, who ran Formula One, said the race would return in 2009, but it didn't happen.
The Grand Prix Returns (2015–2019, 2021–Present)
In 2011, there were new plans to bring the race back. By 2013, it looked like the Mexican Grand Prix might be on the 2014 calendar. However, it was postponed to 2015 to give more time to update the track.
In July 2014, a 5-year deal was signed for the race to return to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The race officially came back on November 1, 2015. German driver Nico Rosberg won that first race for Mercedes.
In May 2019, it was announced that 2019 might be the last year for the race. This was because the fee for the race was going to be used for other projects. However, in August 2019, a new deal was made. The race would stay until 2022, but it would be renamed the "Mexico City Grand Prix." This new name highlighted the support from the city government.
The 2020 race was cancelled due to travel rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, the 2021 event was the first one under the "Mexico City Grand Prix" name. The race has signed extensions to stay on the calendar until 2028.
Race Winners
Drivers with Multiple Wins
Drivers in bold are racing in Formula One this season. A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Driver | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Max Verstappen |
2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 3 |  Jim Clark |
1962*, 1963, 1967 |
| 2 |  Alain Prost |
1988, 1990 |
| Nigel Mansell |
1987, 1992 | |
| Lewis Hamilton |
2016, 2019 | |
| Source: | ||
* Shared win with Trevor Taylor
Teams with Multiple Wins
Teams in bold are racing in Formula One this season. A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Constructor | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Red Bull |
2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| 4 | Lotus |
1962, 1963, 1967, 1968 |
| 3 | McLaren |
1969, 1988, 1989 |
 Ferrari |
1970, 1990, 2024 | |
| Williams |
1987, 1991, 1992 | |
 Mercedes |
2015, 2016, 2019 | |
| Source: | ||
Engine Manufacturers with Multiple Wins
Manufacturers in bold are racing in Formula One this season. A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
| Wins | Manufacturer | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 5 |  Honda |
1965, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2021 |
| 3 | Climax |
1962, 1963, 1964 |
 Ford * |
1967, 1968, 1969 | |
| Ferrari |
1970, 1990, 2024 | |
| Mercedes |
2015, 2016, 2019 | |
| 2 | Renault |
1991, 1992 |
 TAG Heuer ** |
2017, 2018 | |
| Source: | ||
* Built by Cosworth, funded by Ford
** Built by Renault
Winners by Year
- A pink background means the race was not part of the Formula One World Championship.
- Since 2021, the event has been called the "Mexico City Grand Prix".
See also
In Spanish: Gran Premio de México para niños
