2019 German Grand Prix (Rain Chaos Victory)

Lore & Background

The Mexican Grand Prix was first held on 4 November 1962 at the Magdalena Mixhuca circuit. The circuit was the first international racetrack in Mexico, built within a park in Mexico City. The race provided unique challenges, standing at 2,240m above sea level, with the long, 180-degree, lightly banked and fast Peraltada corner. The first race, a non-championship affair, was won by Team Lotus with Jim Clark taking over the car of teammate Trevor Taylor. The meeting was marred by the death of Ricardo Rodríguez, killed in practice. The Formula One World Championship arrived in 1963 with Clark winning again. In 1964, John Surtees won the Drivers' Championship and Ferrari won the Constructors' Championship. American Richie Ginther took victory for Honda in 1965, the Japanese company's first win in Formula One. Clark won his third Mexican Grand Prix in 1967. In 1968, Graham Hill took victory and his second driver's championship. Crowd control issues in 1968 and 1970 contributed to cancellation. The 1971 event was scheduled but abandoned after the death of Pedro Rodríguez. The Grand Prix returned in 1986 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where Gerhard Berger took his first win. 1987 saw the race run in two parts, won by Nigel Mansell on cumulative time. The 1988 race was moved to late May; Alain Prost dominated. Ayrton Senna won in 1989. 1990 saw Prost win for Ferrari. 1991 saw Senna finish third. For 1992, the race was moved to March; Williams teammates Mansell and Patrese dominated. The state of the track and Mexico City's problems saw Formula One leave again.

In Their Own Story

The sky above Hockenheim bruised from purple to black as the heavens tore open. Water didn't merely fall; it hammered the tarmac, turning grandstands into a kaleidoscopic blur behind sheets of rain. Inside the cockpit, Max Verstappen gripped the wheel, eyes scanning through a wall of spray. The radio crackled with frantic updates, but his telemetry told a different story: the track was drying faster than anyone dared to believe. "Box, box," the team called out for others, but for Max, it was time to go. He dove into the pit lane, tires screeching as they hit the slicks just as the clouds parted slightly. When he emerged, Lewis Hamilton was still navigating the treacherous intermediate rubber, his car sliding dangerously in the deepening puddles. The gap closed instantly. The roar of the crowd, muffled by the storm, seemed to rise as Verstappen pulled alongside.

Reader's Guide

The circuit is the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. The race is held at high altitude, 2,240m above sea level. The Peraltada corner is a long, 180-degree, lightly banked and fast turn. The circuit has been modified over time; the Peraltada's banking was eased for the 1986 return, and further eased for 1992. The track was known for being bumpy due to actively shifting soils.

Did You Know?

• The first Mexican Grand Prix in 1962 was a non-championship event won by Jim Clark, who took over Trevor Taylor's car.
• Ricardo Rodríguez was killed in practice for the 1962 race.
• Richie Ginther's 1965 victory was Honda's first win in Formula One.
• The 1968 race saw Graham Hill win his second Drivers' Championship.
• The 1970 race was delayed by an hour due to crowd control issues; a dog ran across the track and was hit by Jackie Stewart.