Formula 1: Articles & News Reports.

[Fortitude]

Verstappen wants perfection ahead of Mexico Grand Prix.
“We need to keep having perfect weekends to fight for the Championship, so it is important to hit the ground running in Mexico." - Max Verstappen.
23 Oct 2025
Drew Murphy
GPblog.com

Both Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda are raring to begin racing in Mexico City. Verstappen has shortened the gap between himself and Championship leader Oscar Piastri to just 40 points. The Dutchman knows he needs more perfect weekends like in Austin to claim his fifth World Drivers Championship.

He said: "We have gained a lot of positive momentum over the past few races, and we want to keep pushing and extracting as much performance out of the car as we can, and the Team have been working hard to do this. We need to keep having perfect weekends to fight for the Championship, so it is important to hit the ground running in Mexico."

After achieving a seventh-place finish at the United States Grand Prix, Tsunoda is hoping to showcase his talent ahead of Red Bull’s driver line-up decision for next year. Tsunoda said: “I’m coming to Mexico ready to fight for the points again. I had a good few days between Austin and Mexico, visiting Los Angeles, a place I had never been before. The aim is to have a consistent weekend overall and if I can do that I put myself in the position to score better points for the Team and be racing nearer the top of the grid, where we should be."

‘Raring to begin racing in Mexico City’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verst...ico-grand-prix


Another Verstappen stronghold? The recent history of the Mexico City GP
10212025
Ben McCarthy
Sporting News

A Verstappen stronghold: Max Verstappen has won this race five times, regardless of whether the event was labelled the 'Mexico' or 'Mexico City' Grand Prix. Yet only one of those wins has come from pole position. In 2017 and '18, he passed the polesitters of those races, Sebastian Vettel in the former and Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo in the latter, by the first braking zone and never looked back.

In 2021, he did the same thing, but with an outrageous late-braking overtake on the two Silver Arrows, including his then-championship rival Lewis Hamilton. And 2023 was no different; he started from third but passed the two Ferraris in a heartbeat. In fact, Verstappen has led this race after the first lap every time since 2021, and has led the first tour in six in the last seven races at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Although he seized the lead on the first tour of last year's race, the worrying pace of the RB21, coupled with two 10-second penalties, set him back to sixth place.

‘Verstappen has led this race after the first lap every time since 2021’;

https://www.sportingnews.com/uk/form...1fab9f75e8e47f


Max previews Mexico Grand Prix: 'Tends to suit our car'
23 October 2025
Niels Hendrix
Verstappen.nl

Max Verstappen has travelled from Austin, where he won the race, to Mexico City for the upcoming Grand Prix. The Dutchman says: “We have gained a lot of positive momentum over the past few races and we want to keep pushing and extracting as much performance out of the car as we can and the team have been working hard to do this.”

Max adds: “We need to keep having perfect weekends to fight for the championship, so it is important to hit the ground running in Mexico. The circuit tends to suit our car and it will be all about managing our tyres and the grip. Of course, the high altitude always brings unique challenges, decreasing the air density, which will be affecting everyone. Mexico is always a fun party atmosphere, so it will be exciting to round up the double header there.”

'Tends to suit our car';

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5986/


Verstappen tight-lipped looking ahead: 'That's the beauty of it!'
22 Oct 2025
Kada Sarkozi
GPblog.com

While Max Verstappen did not go into details, Lando Norris shared more about his expectations for the Mexico City Grand Prix. The Dutchman remained tight-lipped about the upcoming event. He said: "Well, the beauty of it is we'll find out next week. I don't really think about it. We'll find out next week. We could speculate, but I don't like that."

Norris expects a close battle between McLaren and Red Bull, though he believes other teams could also be in the mix. The Briton added: "Probably the same as here. I don’t think it’ll change that much. It’s close between us and Red Bull — one weekend they're a little bit quicker, the next we’re a little bit faster. You know, Mercedes was quickest in Singapore. So, yes, you can have many different things here, but we’re going to see."

'That's the beauty of it!';

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/verst...e-beauty-of-it


Start time for the 2025 F1 Mexican Grand Prix - Mexico City
The F1 season continues this weekend with the 2025 F1 Mexican Grand Prix. Don't miss any of the action and check out all the session start times for the weekend here.
23 October 2025
RacingNews365 Staff
RacingNews365

The schedule for the 2025 F1 Mexico City GP is automatically adjusted to your time zone.
F1 schedule Mexican GP
Session
Date Time
Free practice 1 Friday 24 October 20:30 - 21:30
Free practice 2 Saturday 25 October 00:00 - 01:00
Free practice 3 Saturday 25 October 19:30 - 20:30
Qualification Saturday 25 October 23:00 - 23:59
Race Sunday 26 October 21:00 - 23:00

‘Start times’;

https://racingnews365.com/start-time...ix-mexico-city


Will the rain impact the title fight? Full Mexico GP weather breakdown
22 Oct 2025
Samson Ero
GPblog.com

Formula 1 heads to Mexico City for the next stop on the 2025 calendar. The title race is finely poised, but could the weather conditions influence the outcome? Here is the weather forecast for the race weekend.

Friday, October 24 – FP1 & FP2
Friday will witness the first round of on-track action and is expected to be dry, albeit with a 40% chance of rain. The temperature for the first practice session is forecast at 23°C, while the second practice session is expected to reach 25°C.

Saturday, October 25 – FP3 & Qualifying
The second day of on-track action will feature a temperature of 24°C for the third practice session and 25°C during qualifying, with a 20% chance of rain.
Sunday, October 26 – Grand Prix
Sunday’s race is expected to be drier, with a 20% chance of rain. The race temperature is forecast at 25°C.

‘Weather forecast for the race weekend’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/will-...ther-breakdown

[Fortitude]

McLaren holds thorough Oscar Piastri car checks ahead of Mexican Grand Prix.
…checking that Oscar Piastri’s car was not hamstrung by an unidentified problem over the United States Grand Prix weekend.
23 Oct 2025
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com

Andrea Stella, the McLaren team principal admitted that identifying the cause of Piastri’s poor pace was a priority after the United States Grand Prix weekend, with McLaren holding a thorough check of his MCL39 to rule out a potential car issue.

He told PlanetF1.com and other media outlets: “This is certainly one of the most important points that we need to review, which is the fact that Oscar, in qualifying and in the race, seemed to have a couple of tenths that he was not able to fully realise and that possibly was available in the car.

“We are actually now checking that we are completely happy with the setup of the car, the setup of the floor, that everything is as intended from a car point of view.”

‘Thorough Oscar Piastri car checks’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/mclare...en-alarm-bells


Mekies expects wide-open battle for Mexican GP victory
23 Oct 2025
Ben Winship
GPblog.com

Red Bull Racing Team Principal Laurent Mekies believes four teams will potentially be in with a chance of winning the Mexican GP this weekend. Mekies expects Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari all to be in and around the podium positions as F1 heads to Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Red Bull have enjoyed a significant turnaround in form in recent times and Max Verstappen dominated the United States GP weekend last time out with a maximum haul of 33 points across both the sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix. In spite of Red Bull’s form, Mekies has underplayed the chances of another Verstappen whitewash when speaking after the United States GP.

“You know, we certainly feel three or four teams can win the race.” He continued: “And today, they [Ferrari] were battling with us. They were battling with McLaren. They took some points out of McLaren. They could have taken some points out of us. So yes, we see them in the game, absolutely.”

‘Wide-open battle’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/mekie...can-gp-victory


‘Don’t crash into each other’—Piastri reveals plan ahead of crucial Mexico City Grand Prix
23 Oct 2025
Peter Maniaty
Sporting News

Asked if his ‘clean slate’ comment meant the repercussions given to Norris after their lap one incident in Singapore had been lifted, the Australian nodded. “Yes, the consequences on Lando’s side have been removed, there were a lot of factors involved, but ultimately that’s what’s been decided,” Piastri said, explaining McLaren’s much talked about ‘papaya rules’ are still in play.

“For us it’s pretty clear what those rules are—don’t crash into each other,” he added. “Regardless of what scenario you’re in, that’s how you’re expected to race as teammates.” As for the increasing title challenge of four-time reigning world champion Verstappen, Piastri acknowledged the Dutchman’s improved consistency was driving his rapid climb up the rankings.

“Clearly over the last few race weekends, Red Bull and Max have certainly found consistency more than anything,” he said. “There were flashes of that kind of performance earlier in the season, but I think the last few weekends it’s been very consistent. I’m sure that they’re going to be a threat again this weekend and we’ll try our best to get the most out of our car and see where we end up.”

‘Don’t crash into each other’;

https://www.sportingnews.com/au/form...1eb74a62db7ae6


Max ahead of Mexico GP: 'Keep the momentum'
24 October 2025
Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl

“It’s obvious we’ve been doing well recently”, said Max. “I definitely enjoy it more this way and we’ll try to maintain the momentum. I want to try and keep winning races until the end of the season. But we also know we have to be perfect if want to have a chance at the end.” At Thursday’s press conference, the Dutchman was asked about the level of risk he is willing to take into turn one. “I don’t think about until I get there on Sunday. Every situation is different, it’s never the same, so there’s no point planning in advance.”

The remainder of the season plays out across racetracks all featuring different characterises. As such, Max is not sure if he can predict where his RB20 will be best suited. “I don’t think you can always go on past results. Some circuits will suit us better than others and I’ve won here a lot. But then again, last year was a disaster, so we’ll look at it race by race.”

“It’s a tricky circuit, with low grip. We have won here, but every year is different so we’ll see what happens. I’m expecting a fun weekend. The fans are always great and full of passion… …I always give everything I’ve got, on both the good and bad days. I’ve always been like that. I don’t think I’m all of a sudden quicker; I just have a more complete car to fight at the front.”

“I always give everything I’ve got”;

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5987/


Everything we learned already at F1's Mexican Grand Prix
Oct 24, 2025
The Race

At last weekend’s United States GP Red Bull got a €50k fine, half of which was suspended, after a team member ignored pit marshals’ instructions to go back through the opening in the pitwall at the start of the formation lap. Andrea Stella and Laurent Mekies, the two team bosses, have discussed the matter this week. Stella and Mekies are both understood to be keen that a line is drawn under it before it escalates or becomes a distraction.

The two McLaren drivers have a “clean slate” for the rest of the season after Oscar Piastri took “some responsibility” for their crash in the United States Grand Prix sprint race. That means the mini-saga and mystery over Lando Norris and his “consequences” for hitting Piastri in the Singapore Grand Prix has ended after just one weekend. McLaren’s post-event review concluded that Piastri could have been more careful in how he cut back across the track at the start of the sprint, which led to a multi-car crash that wiped out Piastri and Norris.

Max Verstappen is not only benefitting from a faster Red Bull in this title chase - he is also able to set it up more as he likes it now. “Naturally It gives me more confidence and it allows us to set up the car a little more aggressive, a little more on the nose without losing the rear for example. And that's exactly what you want.”

‘Everything we learned already’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/e...an-grand-prix/


Mexican Grand Prix revs up for 10th anniversary celebration
Oct 24, 2025
The Straits Times

MEXICO CITY - After a decade of roaring engines and sold-out grandstands, the Mexican Grand Prix will celebrate its 10th anniversary this weekend as a major economic driver and international showcase for the country. Federico Gonzalez, director of the Formula One Mexican Grand Prix, outlined plans this weekend to mark the milestone while reflecting on the event's journey since returning to the F1 calendar in 2015.

"Every year we make an effort to improve the experience for attendees. We get into the smallest details and the biggest coordination efforts with the city," Gonzalez told Reuters on Wednesday. "This project is a platform for promoting tourism in the city and country to the world," he said, noting how the event fills Mexico City's hotels and restaurants while showcasing the nation as vibrant and industrious.”

The race operates through a trust fund established with private contributors rather than public money. "We all recognise that it is an economic windfall for the city, which is important because of the image it projects to the world. This weekend, the hotels and restaurants are full you can feel the vibe. It's not easy to move this city," he said. "The opportunity to be part of an event of this travelling nature is very good because year after year we are in the eye of the world with a presence and an image of the amazing things that happen in Mexico, of how hard-working Mexicans are," he said.

‘10th anniversary celebration’;

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...ry-celebration

[Fortitude]

Charles Leclerc tops Mexican Grand Prix FP1 as Arvid Lindblad beats Yuki Tsunoda.
Yuki Tsunoda was beaten by Red Bull Junior Lindblad by one hundredth of a second, during an FP1 session that could prove vital in the team’s driver decision next year. Team principal Laurent Mekies revealed post-session that the two cars were running slightly different plans, which could have aided the young Brit.
24 October 2025
Rebecca Braybrook
F1 Oversteer

The dusty circuit caught out a couple of drivers, including Paul Aron in the early part of the session and then Hadjar with 20 minutes remaining. The Racing Bulls driver bailed out at Turn 12, heading down the escape road, before reversing back onto the track. The dusty circuit caught out a couple of drivers, including Paul Aron in the early part of the session and then Hadjar with 20 minutes remaining. The Racing Bulls driver bailed out at Turn 12, heading down the escape road, before reversing back onto the track.

Championship contenders Max Verstappen and Lando Norris were forced to miss the first running around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as the teams participated in one of their four mandatory rookie runs. Oscar Piastri, who is leading the drivers’ championship by 14 points, was the first driver to start soft tyre runs at the midway point of the session, setting a time nearly a whole second faster than Isack Hadjar on the mediums.

‘Charles Leclerc tops Mexican Grand Prix FP1’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/cha...-yuki-tsunoda/


Mexico City GP: Free Practice 1 Results
Full results from Free Practice 1 for the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix.
25 Oct 2025
Ben Waterworth
Speedcafe

Charles Leclerc topped first practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix with a 1m18.380s, the Ferrari driver leading Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by 0.107s and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg by 0.380s.

Pos. No. Driver Team Time / Gap Laps
1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:18.380 29
2 12 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.107s 35
3 27 Nico Hulkenberg Kick Sauber +0.380s 27
4 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.404s 31
5 5 Gabriel Bortoleto Kick Sauber +0.536s 28
6 36 Arvid Lindblad Red Bull Racing +0.617s 26
7 31 Esteban Ocon Haas F1 Team +0.658s 29
8 22 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull Racing +0.710s 29
9 43 Franco Colapinto Alpine +0.951s 28
10 23 Alexander Albon Williams +1.004s 33

‘Free Practice 1 Results’;

https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-m...1-fp1-results/


FP1: Leclerc heads Antonelli and Hulkenberg in opening practice for Mexico City Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc set the pace in FP1 in Mexico as nine rookie drivers took part in the session.
25 Oct 2025
Formula One - Official Site

Charles Leclerc finished fastest in Free Practice 1 for the Mexico City Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver heading Kimi Antonelli and Nico Hulkenberg. Leclerc finished just one-tenth faster than Antonelli, with Hulkenberg a further three-tenths back from Drivers' Championship leader Oscar Piastri in fourth.

The McLaren driver gained some crucial running on his title rivals Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, who could only watch on from the pit wall. This was because no fewer than nine rookie drivers were in action during the one-hour session on Friday, with Kick Sauber the only team not to field a junior driver at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

While all the stand-ins were keen to impress, the likes of Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull) and Paul Aron (Alpine) took to the track with greater emphasis as the possibility of graduating to the championship next season remains within their grasps. Esteban Ocon's 1m 20.934s initially left him top of the times as dust was cleared from the circuit in the early stages, with lap times continuing to drop as Isack Hadjar and Antonelli traded top spot between themselves.

‘Charles Leclerc set the pace in FP1’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...tNzwBt2Tw6QRhs


Red Bull 'magical work' to help Max Verstappen cast spell over McLaren
Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan has explained how "magical work in Milton Keynes" is aiding Max Verstappen's F1 drivers' championship charge at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
24 October 2025
Samuel Coop & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Speaking to media, including RacingNews365, Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan reflected on the challenge, saying: "It's probably the most difficult one [grand prix] for cooling, because the engine is less affected if you can tune it appropriately.

"There's just nowhere to cool the thing, is there? So you've got a turbocharged engine that doesn't know it's at high altitude, and you've got radiators that haven't got any air, and brakes haven't got any air. So this is one of the bigger challenges in that respect.”

"Singapore was pretty tough temperature-wise, Hungary is normally brutal, but it's nearer sea level, but Hungary's got no air speed. Here we get plenty of air speed, just no air. So it's one of the difficult ones in that respect."

'Magical work';

https://racingnews365.com/red-bull-m...l-over-mclaren


Red Bull explains latest update to bolster Max Verstappen’s title challenge at F1 Mexico GP
24 October 2025
Jack Oliver Smith
Motorsport Week

When asked why the topbody exits, or ‘louvres’, were different to that of its rivals, Red Bull’s Chief Engineer Paul Monaghan explained to media including Motorsport Week: “Well, we are allowed to be different, so we choose to be. With the top body exit…if you go and look at a certain orange car, you’ll see some exits down by the wishbones.”

“Us, we choose to bring out a combination by the louvres and by the central exit. And what you choose to distribute, you choose to distribute. A different way to look at it is how much air do you need to push through your side pods to get the cooling.”

“Once you’ve done that, then you’ve got an indication of your exit area.Most cars are exit limited, not inlet limited. So you open up the exit first and how they choose to do it is down to their top body shape and how they spell it on the rear wing.”

‘Latest update to bolster Max Verstappen’s title challenge’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/...-f1-mexico-gp/