The Formula 1 World Championship has left Texas for the Mexico City Grand Prix, in the capital city of the Central American country.

The race takes place at an altitude of over 2000 metres at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, making it one of the more unusual rounds on the calendar. Scuderia Ferrari HP will have three drivers on duty this weekend as, in Friday's first free practice Antonio Fuoco, a star of Endurance racing, will be making his very first appearance in an official session as part of the rule requiring each race driver to give up their seat twice during the season to a driver who has taken part in no more than two races (last year Oliver Bearman drove in FP1 for the team). He will be at the wheel of Lewis Hamilton's car.

The circuit and the challenges at altitude. The circuit named in memory of the Rodriguez brothers sits at 2,285 metres above sea level and the rarefied air at this altitude is a key factor over the weekend, with a very significant effect on aerodynamics, cooling and on tyre management. The layout boasts long straights followed by heavy braking points along with some tighter sections. This leads to many teams opting for a one stop strategy, especially as tyre degradation is never excessive in Mexico City. However, the effect of altitude can alter this concept, as pushing too hard can overheat the tyres and thus require a second pit stop.

Fred Vasseur: In Austin, thanks to strong teamwork and the support of the people back at the factory, we were able to execute one of our strongest weekends of the season. It's important that we maintain this high level of focus and determination for the final part of the year. Mexico will bring a very different set of challenges, mainly because of the altitude, which affects cooling, power unit performance, aerodynamics and tyre behaviour. The key will be to find the right balance between all these factors. The atmosphere in Mexico is always incredible, thanks to the energy and enthusiasm of the fans, that makes itself felt all weekend long.

Ferrari at the Mexico GP

23 GP Contested
Debut 1963 (J. Surtees ret.; L. Bandini ret.)
3 (13.04%) Wins
5 (21.74%) Pole positions
6 (26.09%) Fastest laps
14 (20.29%) Podiums

Three questions to Antonio Fuoco, Development Driver.

Antonio, you are making your debut at a Formula 1 weekend driving in FP1, when you will be driving Lewis' SF-25. How special is this moment for you?
Antonio Fuoco: My debut in an official weekend is something that, both personally and professionally, makes me truly proud and happy. Having the opportunity to drive Lewis's car and to share the garage with Charles again, as we did in 2017 in Formula 2, is really special. We've shared many moments together, both on and off the track. Then our careers took different paths, but we've always maintained a great relationship, and today we've both achieved important milestones with Ferrari. It will definitely be a Friday to remember, a reward for the work I've done over the years in support of the team.

Through your work on the simulator, you know the SF-25 very well. What kind of contribution can you make to the team during FP1? And on the other hand, what do you expect to learn from this experience, from the car, the work on track with the engineers?
AF: My main contribution will certainly be to provide a useful reference for simulator correlation, trying to collect as much data as possible and to verify in real conditions how the car behaves on track during a race weekend. For me personally, it will also be important to help me improve in the work I usually do on the simulator. Working with Lewis' engineers and the rest of the team at the track will allow me to grow further and refine the technical sensitivity that I'll bring back to my work in Maranello.

Looking back at your career so far how has Ferrari contributed to your growth as a driver and as a person?
AF: Looking back at my journey, I can say that these years with Ferrari have been truly unique. We've come a long way together, from the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy to GT racing, through work in the simulator, developing the Formula 1 car, and finally the 499P project. I must admit I'm very proud, especially as an Italian driver who dreamed since childhood of racing for Ferrari. The victory with the Hypercar in the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans will probably remain the highlight of my career, but being able to finally take part officially in a Formula 1 weekend with Scuderia Ferrari HP is an incredible feeling.

Mexico City Grand Prix: Facts & Figures

80. The pulquerias still open today in Mexico, the last bastion of an ancient tradition. Pulque, a fermented drink made from the sap of the maguey agave, was considered by the Aztecs to be the nectar of the gods and was drunk during religious rituals and ceremonies. It has a milky appearance and a thick consistency, with a slightly tangy, yeasty flavour, which is very different from distilled spirits like tequila or mezcal. After a period of decline in the twentieth century, caused by the greater popularity of beer, pulque is experiencing something of a revival thanks to artisanal pulquerias and flavoured versions known as curados, which combine tradition and modernity with the taste of fruit, spices, and grains.

120. The number of active wrestlers in Mexico, where lucha libre is much more than a sport. It's a popular show blending acrobatics, theatricality, and tradition. That number includes male and female fighters as well as the famous mini luchadores, true stars of this colourful and noisy world. The masks, symbols of identity and mystery, represent heroes and villains who face off in spectacular matches in front of an enthusiastic crowd. Started in the 1930s, lucha libre has become part of Mexico's national culture, mixing sport and entertainment, and continues to fill huge places such as Arena Mexico and Arena Coliseo.

1592. The year Alameda Central, the oldest public park in the Americas and one of Mexico City's symbolic landmarks was opened. Originally commissioned by Viceroy Luis de Velasco as a garden for the colonial nobility, it later became an open space for everyone, the city's green heart and a popular meeting place. Its fountains, statues, and tree-lined avenues reflect over four centuries of history, from colonial times through revolutions, up to the present day. Today, Alameda Central is a place of recreation and culture, surrounded by historic buildings such as the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and is one of the most popular destinations for locals and tourists.

1924. The year the Caesar Salad was invented in Tijuana, Mexico. It was first created in Italian-American restaurateur Cesare Cardini's restaurant, from whom the dish takes its name. Legend has it that the recipe was born by chance, when the chef had to improvise a dish using the ingredients left in the kitchen during an exceptionally busy day. The original recipe called for romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmigiano Reggiano, eggs, olive oil, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, and anchovies, all mixed in a bowl. Over time, the Caesar Salad has become an international dish, with several variations, adding grilled chicken, bacon, or prawns, while maintaining a balance between simplicity and strong flavours.

5636. The metres of the highest point in Mexico, the Pico de Orizaba, or Citlaltepetl, a majestic inactive volcano located between the states of Veracruz and Puebla. It dominates the central plateau and, on clear days, can even be seen from the Gulf of Mexico. At the opposite extreme lies the country's lowest point, Laguna Salada in Baja California, a dip in the desert approximately 10 metres below sea level. When it rains, the depression fills, forming what looks like a vast lake, but for most of the year it is just a wide expanse of sand and salt.