
Giorgio Piola's F1 technical analysis
Tech verdict: How teams cruised through Mexico City’s altitude
The Mexican Grand Prix provided a significant challenge to drivers and teams alike, as the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez sits 2250m above sea level. This makes it an outlier on the Formula 1 calendar in terms of altitude, meaning teams had to focus their efforts differently in order to get close to their usual levels of performance.

The rarefied air at this altitude is extremely punishing and would result in the drivers melting their power units if they chose to run cooling solutions ordinarily earmarked for track characteristics closer to sea level. Fortunately, the altitude also lessens the effect this has on the drag component that’s ordinarily encountered too, as can be seen by how teams wield high downforce wings at a circuit that at lower altitude would see teams reaching for skinnier alternatives.
Click on the arrows to scroll through the images below…
Red Bull Racing RB15, cooling

Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Mercedes AMG W10, rear cooling detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Mercedes F1 AMG W10, rear detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Ferrari SF90

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
Toro Rosso STR14

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Williams Racing FW42

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Haas F1 Team VF-19

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
McLaren MCL34

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Alfa Romeo Racing C38

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Racing Point RP19

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Racing Point RP19

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Renault F1 Team R.S.19, rear

Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Mercedes F1 AMG W10, brake detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Mercedes AMG F1 W10, brake

Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Mercedes AMG F1 W10, brake detail

Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Mercedes AMG F1 W10, steering wheel Lewis Hamilton

Photo by: Giorgio Piola
Mercedes AMG F1 W10, steering wheel Valtteri Bottas

Photo by: Giorgio Piola
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About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Event | Mexican GP |
Author | Giorgio Piola |
Tech verdict: How teams cruised through Mexico City’s altitude
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