Like the United States Grand Prix, the Mexican Grand Prix is back on the calendar two years later. For this competition the central compounds of the range: C2 like P Zero White hard, C3 like P Zero Yellow medium and C4 like P Zero Red soft. The nomination is the same as in 2019, the year in which the race took place a few days earlier, while it is a step tougher than in 2018 (when it became clear that the C5 was too aggressive a choice for Mexico). Even if the compound choice is the same made for the COTA two weeks ago, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez has very different characteristics: it is much smoother, with two narrow and winding final sectors, and a long starting straight, part of a first very fast sector. This places particular emphasis on braking, but traction is also a key element. The versatility of the central P Zero compounds of the range makes them suitable for the specificities of the Mexico City track.
This is one of the historic circuits for Formula 1, born in the late 1950s. Since then, however, it has undergone extensive renovations – the most recent intervention by renowned circuit architect Herman Tilke – before returning to the calendar in 2015. With an altitude of 2,285 meters above sea level, the Autodrome Hermanos Rodríguez it is located higher (over 1000 meters) than any other track on the calendar. This means that the air is thinner, so even if the cars have a loaded set-up to try to generate aerodynamic grip when cornering, in reality the effect of downforce is reduced to a minimum and this, as a consequence, can generate slipping. The top three finishers in 2019 all used a medium-hard one stop strategy (with some long hard stints), while Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) finished fourth with two stops and two medium stints. The soft, on the other hand, was not used much due to the graining, although this aspect was reduced between free practice and the race, and overall the riders who started with the soft were able to finish the grand prix with two stops. The track hasn’t hosted many races in the past two years. As a result, the drivers will have to face a particularly “green” and slippery surface at the start, which should evolve rapidly over the weekend. But, since the weather is unpredictable at this time of year in Mexico City, there is always the possibility that showers will come and “reset” the asphalt.
Mario Isola (Pirelli motorsport manager): “The high altitude in particular, but also the very conformation of the circuit, always generate a series of surprises and interesting challenges in Mexico, so often the race is unpredictable and there are several options at the strategy level. The last time we raced here, medium and hard were the tires the teams put the most emphasis on during the race and depending on the level of graining and slip that could occur with the soft, this could happen this year. the same thing. Therefore, understanding the performance gap between soft and medium will be crucial for qualifications. Hermanos Rodríguez is a historic and exciting circuit, so we are happy to return after two years. The race will take place around the same time of the year as two seasons ago and, since then, no significant track changes have been made, except for a partial resurfacing before Turn 1 to smooth out a disconnect. However, the cars have changed a lot in the meantime, so it is difficult to say whether the data obtained in 2019 are still current ”.
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