Mexican GP: 10 years, 10 moments
On the eve of the Mexico City Grand Prix we dedicate a series of pieces throughout the week to the 10th anniversary of the return to F1
In the days before Mexico City Grand Prix 2025we prepared a series of texts to remember the 10 years of the F1 in Mexico.
The Formula 1 has had three stages in Mexico: from 1962 (in ’62 it was not official) to 1970; then from 1986 to 1992 and finally the third stage we are in, which began in 2015 and, according to the current contract, would end in 2028.
Regarding these 10 years and to celebrate what will be the 10th race – this should be the 11th, but the 2020 edition was canceled – we recover what we consider to be the 10 moments of F1 on Mexican soil since its return.
1. Return of F1 to Mexico
With Checo Pérez in the highest category of motorsport since 2011, a plan was being put together for months to have a race in Mexico. AND
Fortunately, in July 2014 the return of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to the F1 calendar starting in 2015 was announced. It was a 5-year contract with the option to renew.
2. Jenson Button achieves a historical record
In 2015, the first F1 race was held in Mexico after a 23-year absence. The first winner of this third stage was Nico Rosberg with the Mercedes, the same German also won pole, so it was a good weekend for him and his team. Not for Jenson Button.
The 2009 world champion, then with McLaren, was penalized with 70 positions on the starting grid, an infamous penalty record that still stands. The Englishman was sanctioned because the team decided to change everything they could change about the McLaren, which in the end cost them 70 positions. De facto, he started last and reached the finish line 14th.
3. Verstappen, Vettel… Ricciardo. A complicated third place
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg achieved 1-2. Then Mercedes ruled the category with an iron fist, but behind them Red Bull and Ferrari competed for what the Germans left behind.
In Mexico, a young Max Verstappen (Red Bull) finished third in the AHR. But just before going to the awards ceremony he was notified that he had been penalized for leaving the track and taking advantage, so he was penalized and Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) took third place and the champagne.
But around an hour later, Vettel was also penalized for an incident with Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) who ultimately took the podium.
4. Hamilton Championship in Mexico
The Englishman was proclaimed champion by finishing ninth in the Mexican Grand Prix, which was won by the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and in which the German Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) was fourth.
It was enough for Hamilton to be fifth; or finish ninth, as long as the German – who was not worth third place in any case – did not win the race. Vettel finished fourth, behind the Finns Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), second place, and Kimi Raikkonen (his Ferrari teammate) and the Englishman celebrated his fourth world title, after those of 2008 (with McLaren) and those of 2014 and 2015.
A year later he would validate his title again in Mexico, the fifth world championship of the eight that Sir Lewis has won.
5. The renewal was finally achieved
In 2019 it would be the last race according to the 2015 contract. There were months of uncertainty and a lot of negotiation by private parties, the tourism secretary of Mexico City, the organizers and F1.
The federal government of Mexico, already headed by Andrés Manuel López Obrador, refused to pay its part for the renewal of the race. But between private companies and Mexico City, the required amount was reached and the race was saved. And that is why it became the Mexico City Grand Prix.
6. Checo Pérez on the podium
After the cancellation of the race in 2020, Mexico had its competition again in 2021. By then, Checo Pérez was already on the Red Bull team and a good result was expected from the Mexican.
And it did not disappoint. Checo Pérez finished third, behind Hamilton (Mercedes) and Verstappen (Red Bull), becoming the first Mexican to reach the podium in Mexico.
7. Mr. Max Verstappen
Mad Max won the 2021 race and with that victory he became the winningest driver in Mexico,
Verstappen entered the race tied with Jim Clark with two wins, but with a tireless Red Bull he dominated in the AHR and took his third victory. He currently has 5.
8. Red Bull, they also take over Mexico
With Verstappen’s 2022 victory, the team left the group of ‘3-time winners’ to be left with only four wins at the Hermanos Rodríguez. That group is made up of Lotus, McLaren, Williams, Ferrari and Mercedes.
Red Bull currently has five wins on Mexican soil. All from the hand of Max Verstappen, lord of Mexico.
9. Mexico, from a movie
Last year, the Mexican Grand Prix was part of the sets for the film F1.
The public was prepared to support the fictional Apex team, with fictional driver Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt, who ‘won’ in Mexico. And that was how the podium that year was a ‘double podium’: the real one and the movie one.
10. Without Checo Pérez
And we close this top 10 moments from the Mexican GP with one that we are experiencing: it will be the first since 2015 that Checo Pérez will not be on the starting grid.
But the Mexican got the Cadillac seat for the 2026 campaign, and if nothing strange happens, we will see him again in the AHR in 2026.
