Verstappen looks to hold onto his championship lead as Formula 1 returns to Mexico

Formula 1 returns to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for round 18 of the 2021 season as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton continue their championship battle.

The 2.6-mile track weaves through the Magdelena Mixhuca Sports City, which was the site of the 1968 summer Olympic games.

Turns 13 to 15 are the most notorious corners as the circuit takes a diversion through the Foro Sol baseball stadium, the former home of Mexican League team Diablos Rojos del Mexico.

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez returned to the F1 calendar in 2015 for the first time since 1992 and held an annual race every year until 2019, with the 2020 event cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last time out at the Circuit of the Americas, it was Verstappen who held of Hamilton and in doing so extended the gap at the summit of the standings to 12 points. Perez, who finished the United States Grand Prix in third place, will hope to impress his home supporters this weekend with a solid performance and a potential race win.

In the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix, Hamilton took glory that weekend and clinched his sixth drivers’ title as he narrowly finished ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas.

Verstappen originally qualified on pole position however was handed a three-place grid penalty for failing to slow down in a yellow flag zone. This saw Charles Leclerc start from pole but he could only find the pace to come home in fourth.

Jim Clark is the most successful driver on Mexican soil with the Brit scoring three victories in 1962, 1963 and 1967. The two-time world champion’s win record could be equalled if Hamilton or Verstappen were to take the win on Sunday.

Lotus are the most successful constructor in Mexico clinching four victories between 1962 and 1968 with three wins courtesy of the late-great Clark and the 1968 event which was won by Graham Hill. Mercedes, McLaren and Williams have the chance to equal Lotus’ tally if they are victorious this weekend.

Top 10 Prediction

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1. Max Verstappen

The Dutchman will take his third Mexican Grand Prix victory this weekend and it will be in dominant style. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is a happy hunting ground for Verstappen as he aims to clinch his maiden F1 title. His Red Bull car will thrive in the thin air which will prove to be pivotal in the battle for the race win.

2. Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton will record yet another fastest lap as he desperately tries to minimise his rival’s scoring. The Brit will string together good race pace however he won’t be able to match the victorious Dutchman.

3. Sergio Perez

Home-hero Perez will score his third podium in succession after a scintillating last-lap battle with Bottas. The Mexican will have another solid weekend as his form continues to pick up and his pursuit for third in the drivers’ standings continues.

4. Valtteri Bottas

Bottas will endure a frustrating race and lose out to Perez on the final lap. The Finn will qualify in third but will struggle to keep up with Hamilton and Verstappen.

5. Lando Norris

McLaren’s Norris will be pleased with his showing in Mexico. Retaining fifth place in the race will cap off an important weekend for McLaren as they bid to finish third in the constructors’ standings.

6. Daniel Ricciardo

Ricciardo will benefit from another triple-header which will start off with a solid sixth-place finish. Despite having a poor qualifying, the Aussie will take an alternative strategy that will see him climb up positions throughout the race.

7. Pierre Gasly

On the opposite end of the fortunes, Gasly’s race will be ruined by tyre degradation. When running comfortably in fifth, the Frenchman’s hard compound tyres will unexpectedly drop off, forcing him to pit and drop to seventh place.

8. Charles Leclerc

Leclerc will be happy with his weekend. Another Q3 appearance will lead to another top 10 finish as he bids to finish ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz in the drivers’ standings.

9. Sebastian Vettel

The German will enjoy a race-long tussle with his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon. Thanks to a perfect strategy call from his team, the German wins that battle to claim ninth place.

10. Esteban Ocon

Ocon will pounce on a slow Stroll stop in the dying embers of the race. The Frenchman will bounce back from a disappointing United States Grand Prix with another points finish as he makes a late-season charge to break into the top 10 in the drivers’ standings.

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