Mexico Grand Prix Preview: One-two finish for Red Bull?

Following last weekend’s eventful race in Austin, Texas for the United States Grand Prix, the drivers head to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez track in Mexico City, which will favour certain cars in what is set to be an immense strategic battle this weekend in the tough conditions.

The Mexican Grand Prix will prove to be yet another testing fixture in this year’s Formula 1 season due to the nature of track, raised 2,238m above sea level, favouring higher downforce setups to take advantage of the minimal drag on the long straights.

We preview the race below.

Red Bull looking to secure a double podium finish for the first time since the Belgian Grand Prix.

All fingers point towards Max Verstappen this year in Mexico at 3/10, winning 4 of his last 5 races there, looking to further consolidate his 226 point lead from his teammate Sergio Pérez and cement himself in the history books to beat Sebastian Vettel’s 2013 record of a 155 point winning margin in the Driver’s Championship. Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez will also be hungry to perform in front of his home crowd and at 15/2, will certainly be chasing a podium finish.  Both Pérez and Hamilton are Evens to finish in the top two.

After a disappointing disqualification from last week’s race, Lewis Hamilton will be looking to take full advantage of Mercedes’ pace around this track as last year Mercedes got a P2 and P4 finish with George Russell setting the fastest lap time, and he is 9/1 to do the same again this year.

As with last year’s Grand Prix, qualifying will prove to be vital in securing points this weekend, with the conditions not being conducive to overtaking, despite the three DRS zones at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez track. In last year’s battle, there were only twenty-four on-track overtakes which will favour the more consistent drivers within the field should they secure top 10 in qualifying.

Dark horses looking to shake-up low-table standings

Yuki Tsunoda is one to watch this weekend at 33/1 to finish in the top 6 in the AlphaTauri. Although a big price, following his disappointment in last year’s race falling victim to Ricciardo’s bold inside overtake, squeezing Tsunoda off the track and forcing early retirement from the race, Tsunoda will be looking for redemption with the help of the Honda-powered engine which we know is a strong competitor in these conditions.

Given that both Championship titles have already been decided, the competition at the bottom of the pack is worth keeping an eye on this weekend. Alfa Romeo are sitting in eighth  place in the Constructor’s with Haas and AlphaTauri looking to make up places which makes the market ‘Winning Constructor – Without the Big 5’ particularly interesting going into the weekend. Haas, who are the only team not to have managed a top 10 finish in the past two Grand Prix, introduced a major upgrade package last weekend, debuting new sidepod inlets, engine cover bodywork and floor, and will be looking to secure some points before the season end.

The forecast is looking to be largely sunny and mild through the weekend with a few showers predicted on Sunday which could lead to potential upsets in this Grand Prix as the drivers wrestle with the tough conditions.