Mexico hosts a long list of top motorsport events, from the Carrera Panamericana and the Baja 1000 to Rally Mexico, although the latter has been the only FIA-sanctioned competition to be held in the country for a decade. Now, though, the Mexican Formula 1 Grand Prix is back on the programme after a 23-year absence.
From 1963 until 1992, 15 Mexican GPs were organised at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez which was inaugurated in a park in Mexico City in 1962. The bumpy track was notoriously challenging for engines because of its high altitude (2,296m).
The first GP was won by Briton Jim Clark (Lotus-Climax) ahead of Jack Brabham after local hero Pedro Rodriguez retired (suspension). Until last year, the 1963 race was remembered for being the only GP to have had a N°13 car on the grid (Moises Solana).
John Surtees and Ferrari were the following year’s world champions but the USA’s Dan Gurney (Brabham/Climax) won in Mexico, while Phil Hill contested his last GP there. In 1965, Honda collected its first F1 victory thanks to Richie Ginther.
The 1970 Gran Premio de Mexico was won by Jacky Ickx (Ferrari) as Jack Brabham announced his retirement. The race was attended by more than 200,000 spectators, some of whom spilled onto the track during the final lap.
The country was consequently banned from F1 until 1986 when Gerhard Berger beat Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna to score Benetton’s first success. Subsequent winners were Nigel Mansell, Prost, Senna and Ricardo Patrese. The period’s last race (1992) saw a certain Michael Schumacher claim his first podium finish.
The Mexican GP returns to Formula 1 this year at the same Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, albeit after significant work to bring it back up to FIA standards.