STARD developed Projekt E car to make competitive debut in Romania.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIAWorldRallycross.com

The new all-electric Projekt E car developed by STARD (Stohl Advanced Research and Development) will make its competitive debut this weekend in Romania. 

Projekt E will run as a support series at selected FIA World Rallycross Championship events next year. 

STARD's 612hp 4WD all-electric three-motor Projekt E Ford Fiesta electRX car will be driven by Romanian television star and national racing driver Dani Otil in the "CN Super Rally" City Racing Series, in Bucharest, Romania this weekend, as the Austrian outfit targets an overall victory.

The Fiesta electRX car will compete against Hillclimb, circuit racing and rally elite cars, which all mostly use internal combustion engines.

“We have developed the all-electric #REVelution powertrain system to be able to run in virtually any type of racing genre," said Michael Sakowicz, Founder & CEO STARD.

"The city center of Bucharest is the perfect place to further test and start to showcase the versatility of our powertrain system. There we will compete in a city racecourse against all sorts of race cars from the circuit, over Hillclimb to rally cars."

"We believe to have developed the most affordable and most flexible EV motorsport powertrain system on the market. On top of that, we are immediately enabling the use of OEM electric powertrain technology straight away. This is worldwide unique!"

"Throughout the next months, we will demonstrate this at various opportunities, in many different ways. We´re just getting started," he adds.

In Romania, STARD will use the same specification powertrain as supplied to Projekt E, the world´s first all-electric rallycross series starting from 2020.

Written By - Junaid Samodien

Renault F1 Team: 2019 Mexican GP Preview

Nico Hülkenberg #27

"Mexico has a really cool atmosphere. The circuit is quite old with a lot of history and you really feel that vibe when you’re there. It’s a tricky little circuit. It’s high altitude and that changes the racing dynamic quite a bit. The car has less downforce, a lot less drag, so we’re fast down the straights and then under braking the car feels like it has a lot less grip. It’s quite a unique feeling and one you have to get used to. It’s important we score well again in Mexico. We’re approaching the business end of the season and everything has to count."

What do you like about the Mexican Grand Prix?
Mexico has a really cool atmosphere. The circuit is quite old with a lot of history and you really feel that vibe when you’re there. I like places where you feel a racing connection like Interlagos and Silverstone; Mexico is similar to that. In terms of the location, Mexico City is crazy and such a huge place. Hopefully the weather will be more straightforward than Japan, it’s usually quite hot there.

What are the main challenges of a lap?
It’s a tricky little circuit. It’s high altitude and that changes the racing dynamic quite a bit. The car has less downforce, a lot less drag, so we’re fast down the straights and then under braking the car feels like it has a lot less grip. It’s quite a unique feeling and one you have to get used to. It’s a technical circuit and not an easy lap. The stadium is a cool experience, not many circuits have something like that. You can hear and feel the noise. The fans support everyone there, it’s really great to see.

What are your thoughts heading into this race?
We left Japan feeling pretty content. Sunday was a bit up and down with qualifying, which was frustrating followed by a pretty enjoyable race where we really made some gains and came away with points in the bag. It’s important we score well again in Mexico. We’re approaching the business end of the season and everything has to count

Daniel Ricciardo #3

"Mexico is an awesome place and I really enjoy going there. The atmosphere in the paddock is full of life and quite vibrant. The pole position last year was pretty memorable. It was an exciting lap, putting it all together at the end; it was special. If we can get into Q3 and be first of the midfield this weekend then that will be pretty good too. We’ve been on a disappointing run recently so we deserved the result in Japan. We’re aiming to carry some momentum now in Mexico. The target is to better the McLarens and outscore them to keep the pressure on. Let’s go Mexico!"

How enjoyable is the Mexican Grand Prix?
Mexico is an awesome place and I really enjoy going there. The atmosphere in the paddock is full of life and quite vibrant. Everyone seems like they are having a good time, it’s all in good spirit and there’s always plenty going on. It’s nice to have Mexico and Austin as a back to back because they are both hospitable and you won’t go bored there. Viva Mexico!

Do you like the circuit?
It’s a decent circuit with overtaking opportunities; the long straight into Turn 1 and again at Turn 4, for example. I love the stadium section. It’s slow-speed but it’s really unique with the crowd surrounding you in front and at the sides. It’s an insane experience driving through there.

What can you remember about last year’s pole position?
The pole position last year was pretty memorable. It was an exciting lap, putting it all together at the end; it was special. If we can get into Q3 and be first of the midfield this weekend then that will be pretty good too.

How happy were you to score in Japan?
Japan was quite a crazy weekend, so to round it off with sixth place from sixteenth on the grid was awesome. We’ve been on a disappointing run recently so we deserved the result in Japan. We’re aiming to carry some momentum now in Mexico. The target is to better the McLarens and outscore them to keep the pressure on. Let’s go Mexico!

Rémi Taffin, Engine Technical Director

"Mexico is a unique challenge for the season. At 2,000m, the air is much less dense than what we see throughout the year. Air is used to create downforce and cool the car, which we know is much lower than usual in Mexico. We run a Monaco-level aero package even if it still doesn’t create that much drag and produces our high maximum speed. Mexico is like a performance damage limitation event; we don’t primarily design the car to be Mexico specific, we only ensure we minimise the effects of the altitude. During the last few years, we’ve been relatively competitive there."

What are the main challenges of racing a Formula 1 car at high altitude?
Mexico is a unique challenge for the season. At 2,000m, the air is much less dense than what we see throughout the year. Air is used to create downforce and cool the car, which we know is much lower than usual in Mexico. We run a Monacolevel aero package even if it still doesn’t create that much drag and produces our high maximum speed. Mexico is like a performance damage limitation event; we don’t primarily design the car to be Mexico specific, we only ensure we minimise the effects of the altitude. During the last few years, we’ve been relatively competitive there. In terms of the power unit, we know the engine can’t run at its maximum and the turbo is not capable of compensating for the less dense air. We can pre-empt what to expect in Mexico on the dynos in Viry and we’ve been racing there for a few years now and know what to expect from our package. We will then find out where others are.

What is the engine strategy for the next two rounds?
Both drivers have all their engines in the pool since Monza. We have to use what we have for the remaining races. We have older spec engines for Friday and then the latest specs for Saturday and Sunday.

Are there difficulties around back-to-back races?
When we go to Austin it will be back to normal as Mexico, you could say, is just an exception. You do the Mexico race and then everything normal resumes. It’s not too much of a deal for this particular back-to-back race. It’s more of a challenge for the team servicing the parts and all the logistics. It impacts the work behind the scenes rather than performance over the weekend.

What are your thoughts on the power unit performance for the second-half of the season?
We’re pleased with the level of performance we have, but we’re not stopping there. We have to work for next year and the year after. We’re happy to get this level of performance in our car and also in the way we are cleaning up our reliability after a poor start of the season in that respect. There’s room to improve and we’ll be aiming to do that. We introduced our last engines in Spa and Monza and we’re focused on delivering for 2020 and 2021 and reaching high level performance and reliability.

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY Renault F1 Team

Mercedes-AMG Petronas: 2019 Mexican GP Preview.

Toto Wolff Talks Mexico

When we embarked on this journey, no one would have dreamed we would ever be able to achieve this. We hoped that we would be able to win races, maybe even a Championship and represent the Mercedes brand well - but to win six consecutive double Championships and beat a record that seemed unbeatable is very satisfying. It's an achievement that is testament to the hard work, great determination and passion of every single member of our team. Everyone in Brixworth and Brackley has done a tremendous job and we all feel very grateful to call ourselves World Champions for a sixth consecutive time.

There is no sense of entitlement in this team for future success, so we were quickly back to our usual race preparation routine after Japan. We know that the four remaining races are not going to be easy and we expect Mexico to be the most difficult one for us. The high altitude of the track brings some fairly unusual challenges as the low air density affects the downforce of the car, the cooling and the engine performance. It's a combination that doesn't particularly suit our car, but we will give it everything to try and limit the damage. We look forward to the fight and to the amazing Mexican crowd that shares our love for racing and turns the weekend into a brilliant celebration of motorsport.

Mexican Grand Prix: Fact File

• At 4.304km, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is the second shortest circuit on the F1 calendar after the Circuit de Monaco.
• The Mexican Grand Prix is one of three races in the season that has 71 laps, together with Brazil and Austria.
• The 811-metre run from pole position to the first braking zone is the second longest in F1, only behind Russia. 9.6 seconds of it are completed at full throttle.
• The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez has the highest altitude on the calendar, situated 2,285m above sea level. Before Mexico returned to the F1 calendar, the track with the highest altitude was Interlagos in Brazil, 800m above sea level.
• Despite the high altitude, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is one of the flattest tracks on the calendar, with the third smallest elevation change - 2.8m over the 4.304km lap. Only Melbourne and Sochi, both of which are only slightly above sea level, have less elevation change.
• The high altitude means that the ambient pressure is the lowest of the season by far, around 780mb. Oxygen levels at this altitude are 78% of what they are at sea level and this reduction in air density has an impact on the Formula One cars.
• The Power Unit is the most affected by the low atmospheric pressure. A normally-aspirated engine would suffer a significant drop in power (around 20%). A turbocharged engine can make up for this but the turbo has to work much harder than in normal conditions to achieve it, which increases temperatures.
• The thin air also means that it is less effective to cool the car, so the Power Unit and brakes run hotter. Bodywork with increased cooling is required to address this.
• The thin air and increased cooling have two consequences on the aerodynamics of the car: less downforce and less drag. We run a rear wing equivalent to Monaco, but despite this, the actual downforce on the car is closer to the levels experienced in Monza.
• Because of these factors, Mexico sees some of the highest straight-line speeds of the season with cars reaching 370km/h in a tow.
• Some of the highest track temperatures of the year are experienced in Mexico, with an average temperature of 43.5°C and maximum temperatures of up to 52°C in previous years. This is in part due to the very dark tarmac.
• There is a third DRS zone for the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix, running between Turn 11 and Turn 12, with a detection point at Turn 10.
• Despite the long main straight, the track has statistically the third fewest overtakes over the years.
• The fastest corner on the circuit is Turn 9, taken at around 250 km/h. Drivers experience 4.1G through this corner, the most of any on the track. The slowest corner is Turn 13, taken at under 70km/h. This is one of the slowest turns of the entire season.

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport.

Alfa Romeo Racing: 2019 Mexican GP Preview.

Mexico is the backdrop for this weekend’s battle. In our corner, we have a formidable team: the winner of countless battles, the experienced fighter – El Hombre de Hielo, Kimi ­– and the young charger coming through the ranks – El Hombre Abeja, Antonio. The Arena is set. The masks are ready. Our luchadores are ready for the fight.

Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal Alfa Romeo Racing and CEO Sauber Motorsport AG

“We approach the final four races of the season with the confidence we can be in the battle for points at each of these events. Everyone in the team is working hard, both at the factory and at the track, to make sure we extract all of our potential. Mexico is a track with unique characteristics – it’s bumpy, the altitude and the thin air have a strong effect on the car and you have very long straights and a slow and twisty middle sector. The practice sessions will be key to set up the car properly for the rest of the weekend, but I think we will be able to show what we can do.”

Kimi Räikkönen #7

“Mexico gives us a chance to get back in the points. It doesn’t really matter what we did in the past few races, our focus is on the next events and we need to make sure we go out and do our job well. If we do that, we will be in the battle for the points, this is what matters. We know the final four races are very important and we will continue to give 100% to finish the season well.”

 Antonio Giovinazzi #99

“The next two races will be a crucial moment for us. Back-to-backs are always an opportunity to build momentum so it will be important to do well in Mexico and carry on to Austin. I have never raced in Mexico City but I had two practice sessions there and I quite like the track. The layout, with its long straights, reminds me of Monza, but the conditions will be very different due to the altitude. Hopefully our car will suit the circuit well and we will be in the fight for points.”

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY Alfa Romeo Racing

Scuderia Ferrari: 2019 Mexican GP Preview.

This weekend’s race will be the twentieth Mexican Grand Prix. The race has always been held at the same venue, although its name and layout have changed over the years. The track is not far from the centre of Mexico City, at the vast Magdalena Mixhuca sports complex after which it was originally named and which also hosted the 1968 Olympics. It features a long straight, a mixed middle sector and a final part featuring the Peraltada, much modified today from its past as a parabolic corner reminiscent of the one at Monza.

Early years. Mexico’s inaugural Formula 1 race was held in 1962 and was a non-championship event. The win went to Jim Clark, who took over Trevor Taylor’s Lotus after his own car broke down. The event was marred by the death of the local youngster, Ricardo Rodriguez. It was also a sad loss for the Scuderia, which had an agreement in place with the Mexican that, the previous year, had seen him become the youngest ever driver to make his Formula 1 debut with the Maranello team, at the age of 19 years and 208 days, a statistic which still stands today. The following year, Scuderia Ferrari took part in the first race to count for the world championship, but posted a double retirement with John Surtees and Lorenzo Bandini.

The second title. In 1964, Ferrari turned up with the same driver pairing, along with Ricardo Rodriguez’s elder brother, Pedro. The three cars raced in the colours of the North American Racing Team (NART) because at the time, Enzo Ferrari was at loggerheads with the Italian sporting authority that had not supported his homologation as a GT car of the 250 LM destined for the Le Mans 24 Hours. This was the last race of the season and both titles were still up for grabs. The contenders were Graham Hill in the BRM, Surtees in the Ferrari and Clark in a Lotus. Clark led from the start, followed by Dan Gurney in the Brabham, while Surtees was fifth. Hill and Bandini were having a good scrap for third, but when the championship leader Hill tried to pass the Italian, they collided. Hill spun and was out of the race. It looked as though Clark was therefore heading for the title, but with ten laps to go, his car began to have some problems. Ferrari ordered Bandini to let Surtees pass into second place and he won the title when Clark stopped on the final lap. There were great celebrations, as John became the first and, to date the only, driver to win world championships at the highest level on two wheels and four. For the Maranello marque it was its second Constructors’ title.

Crazy one-two. Scuderia Ferrari did not enjoy much success in subsequent years in Mexico City, until 1970, when Jacky Ickx and Clay Regazzoni finished first and second. However, the race was held in chaotic conditions and the start had to be delayed by an hour, when many of the 200,000 strong crowd broke down the crash barriers to stand perilously close to the track. Having repaired the safety installations, the Grand Prix got underway, but as the laps ticked by, the fans once again began to creep onto the grass at the side of the track. Ickx dashed under the chequered flag the clear winner and the crowd surged onto the track to celebrate the Belgian’s win. It meant that Regazzoni and Denis Hulme, second and third, as well as the rest of the field, had to tackle a scary slalom through the crazy crowd. No one was injured, but that was the end of the Mexican Grand Prix for now. The country’s fans suffered another much worse tragedy, when Pedro Rodriguez was killed in an Interserie race at the Norisring, in Germany, in 1971.

Comeback. This race is run at higher altitude than any other, around 2,300 metres above sea level and it returned to the calendar in 1986, with the circuit having been revised and also renamed, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, in honour of the two brothers. Scuderia Ferrari secured a notable one-two here in 1990. Qualifying was difficult: Nigel Mansell was fourth on the grid and Alain Prost way down in 13th. However, it was clear from Sunday morning’s warm-up that the potential of the F1-90 was good enough for the tifosi to dream of glory. Gerhard Berger led in the McLaren from his team-mate, Ayrton Senna, while Mansell was battling Nelson Piquet for third. With 15 laps to go, they were passed by Prost who set off in pursuit of the McLarens, quickly dispensing with Berger. The Frenchman then overtook Senna and the win was safe once the Brazilian had to stop with a puncture. Stealing the limelight from the Frenchman in the closing stages were Berger and Mansell and their duel for second place. For the fans, the crowning glory came with just a few kilometres to go, when the Englishman pulled off one of the most spectacular passing moves ever, passing the Austrian around the outside of the high speed Peraltada.

New era. The Mexican Grand Prix returned to the calendar in 2015, again at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, although this time the layout had been substantially modified by F1 track architect Hermann Tilke. The most significant change was the disappearance of the original Peraltada, replaced with a very slow part in the Arena section, which actually runs through a huge grandstand from which the spectators get a great view of the cars at slow speeds. Sebastian Vettel took pole in 2017, going on to finish fourth behind team-mate Kimi Raikkonen. Last year, the Scuderia Ferrari Mission Winnow drivers finished second and third in a race won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

FERRARI STATS MEXICAN GP
GP contested 18
Debut 1963 (John Surtees dsq; Lorenzo Bandini ret.)
Wins 2 (11,11%)
Pole positions 2 (11,11%)
Fastest laps 4 (22,22%)
Podiums 10 (55,55%)

Sebastian Vettel #5

“Obviously racing at altitude has an impact on how the car feels. We are racing with maximum downforce level in terms of car setup, but, since we are racing so high above sea level, the air is very thin and the cars actually produce very little downforce.

On the long straight, I think we see the fastest top speeds of the season, which makes it difficult to manage the corners, because we’ve got so little downforce physically on the car. The car is moving around a lot and it’s difficult to get the tyres to work, in fact it’s hard to get the whole car to work and to get the right feel from it. It’s a relatively short lap but not an easy one.

Over the past couple of years, we have been on an upward trend in Mexico, although Red Bull has been the team to beat. But I think the gaps between us are getting smaller, so let’s see how we get on this year.”

Charles Leclerc #16

“The circuit in Mexico is an unusual one. We race at such a high altitude and all the teams try to put as much downforce on the car as possible. Despite that, it still feels quite weird and the grip is extremely low.

I have done one FP1 and one race there, so it’s one of the tracks that is still pretty new to me. I really enjoy driving there, especially because the walls are quite close and this is something I like as a driver.

The atmosphere is amazing and driving through the stadium part of the track is truly unique, because you can see all the fans in the grandstands.”

Mattia Binotto Team Principal

“After two races in which we could have done better, we arrive in Mexico determined to win. We will be aiming for our sixth consecutive pole, before looking to convert that into a victory.
The Mexican track has plenty of elements that can catch you out, some of these linked to the fact we are racing at over 2000 metres above sea level. That makes fine tuning the settings on both the chassis and Power Unit side particularly complex, as the requirements are very specific to this track.

The circuit features a variety of corner types as well as long straights on which, year after year, the record relating to top speeds has been beaten. The necessary compromise between having good top speed and sufficient downforce in the corners dictates the aero settings with which we will take to the track.”

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY Scuderia Ferrari

Racing Point: 2019 Mexican GP Preview

Lance Stroll #18

"Mexico is a really fun event. The fans are great and they really help make the race special with the atmosphere they create. Even on the Friday, you see full grandstands and can feel the energy of the crowd.

“Away from the track, the city is awesome too. It’s a busy place, with lots going on, and I definitely enjoy exploring and trying the Mexican food – you can’t beat a good taco! I’ve obviously been to Mexico City a few times now for the race, but I also visited Punta Mita a few years ago for a holiday and played on the golf course. It’s a beautiful place.

“Mexico City is up there as one of my favourite circuits of the year. I enjoy driving the car in high altitude conditions and you can really notice the difference because the car feels more nervous. It just adds another challenge for the drivers.

“It’s quite a simple track – sort of like a go-kart track with some long straights linked by some low-speed corners. It’s quite technical in places and there are overtaking opportunities. I think we have good potential in the car for these final few races and Mexico should suit us quite well.”

Sergio Perez #11

“The race in Mexico is a hugely important weekend for me. It’s my home race and I always feel very proud to see Formula 1 back in Mexico. We’ve just had the notice that the race contract has been extended for another three years, which is great news for the sport and for Mexico. Everybody tells me how much they love the race – my colleagues, the media and the fans. It’s our chance to show everybody the Mexican way of life and how much we love sports.

“The track is a pretty challenging one – especially when you consider we are driving the cars at a high altitude. It’s tough on the drivers physically and it’s hard work for the power unit as well because the air is so thin.

“I think the final sector is my favourite part of the lap - the fast and flowing section, which can be very tricky, and it’s easy to make a mistake through there. Because of the altitude, you have much less downforce on the car and the car can sometimes get quite loose through those fast corners.

“The final sector also has the stadium section and when it’s full of fans the atmosphere is like nothing else. Each time I drive through there, even during practice, I can hear the fans and feel their support.

“Overtaking is never easy, but I think the best opportunity is into Turn 1 – that’s where we’ve seen most of the moves being made.”

Otmar Szafnauer - CEO and Team Principal 

“Mexico has been a fantastic addition to the calendar and, over the last five years, has become one of the most popular races of the season. The atmosphere inside the circuit is unlike any other and, away from the track, we’re treated to some great hospitality. I personally don’t think you can beat a good Chimichanga!

“As a team, we enjoy great support in Mexico – especially because it’s a home race for Sergio – and the energy of the crowd is something that the whole team feeds off. We expect to be competitive and to be fighting for points on Sunday. The car has evolved significantly over the last couple of months and Mexico City is another chance to demonstrate the progress we have made recently.”

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY Sport Pesa Racing Point F1 Team

Scuderia Toro Rosso: 2019 Mexican GP Preview.

Pierre Gasly #10

“Now we head to Mexico. Last year, I took a helicopter trip to visit a Honda factory and to see the huge sprawl of Mexico City from the air is a truly impressive sight. The city seems to spread out forever. 

“The first day you arrive, you can feel you're at altitude, but after that you don't notice it anymore. It has a bigger effect on the cars than the drivers. We can prepare and train for it, but its more complicated for the engine, cooling the brakes is a consideration and there is less downforce, so it's the car that suffers more than we do. We put a lot of downforce on the car and you do notice you have less grip as the aero effect is lessened because the air is less dense. So it can be strange, we ran pretty much maximum rear wing, but the feeling you get is very different to what you would normally expect with that level of downforce. It's always very good to go very fast in a straight line as that's always exciting. During the race, I reckon we must see some of the highest top speeds of the year. Apart from these technical aspects, the whole weekend has an amazing atmosphere. I remember last year, during the Drivers' Parade, I was in a car following Sergio Perez and it was incredible. I don't think I've ever heard so much support for one driver, with people shouting, cheering and screaming. It was madness. That stadium area is so impressive, with so many people in it and when they all start shouting it gives you goosebumps. The whole circuit has a big crowd and that's great to see. 

“As for the track, it's quite slow with plenty of slow corners, but then you have the esses section in the middle of the track, which is what I prefer, because the faster it is the more I like it. During the race, it can get quite busy, especially at the first corner where you can fight other cars. I've never had much luck there, as I had to take engine penalties which dropped me down the grid, although last year I came from the back row to finish tenth and score a point.”

Daniil Kvyat #26

“The thing that impressed me most about the Mexican GP the first year I went there was the circuit and the crowd. Two weeks ago we were in Japan where the fans are also special but in Mexico it's something different. When you go through the stadium section on the drivers' parade and you hear the roar of the crowd, it's an incredible noise, everyone is cheering. There's a fantastic atmosphere there.

“As for the actual track, it's mainly slow corners requiring lots of full lock on the steering wheel. The layout is still quite technical, there are some medium speed chicanes in there and the final part flows a bit more while you hit very high speeds down the very long main straight. The most important thing is that it makes for an exciting race. That's what matters in the end. If the race is exciting, it means the track is good and for us drivers, we just put it on the limit on every corner we have to take.

“The thin air at altitude has an effect on the PU and also the aerodynamics, as there is less drag. It means we hit high top speeds but also run a lot of aero downforce. I remember again the first year I went there, I noticed the altitude a bit, you feel a bit lower on energy the first couple of days but then you get used to it and it's fine. It would be nice to train at altitude, but we never have the time as this is a particularly busy part of the season, involving a lot of travelling with long flights.

“Overall, it's an enjoyable weekend, I have some good memories here and had a good result a couple of years back, finishing fourth and Mexico City is also where we have one of our usual team dinners and, as we head towards the end of the season, it's nice that everyone gets together in a more relaxed way than at the racetrack.”

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY Scuderia Toro Rosso

Haas F1 Team: 2019 Mexican GP Preview.

A fast and slick racetrack in the heart of the most populous city in North America is next up for the FIA Formula One World Championship. The Mexican Grand Prix at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City is the fourth-to-last race of the season, and its smooth and slippery surface combined with being located 2,200 meters (7,218 feet) above sea level makes the 4.304-kilometer (2.674-mile), 17-turn circuit a vexing challenge for drivers and their teams.

The high altitude means there is less downforce on the cars, making aero grip a precious commodity. To compensate for this, teams run more downforce than they would at similarly fast tracks like Italy’s Autodromo Nazionale Monza and Azerbaijan’s Baku City Circuit. But with top speeds in the neighborhood of 350 kph (217 mph), teams have to compromise between straight-line speed and the downforce necessary to push through the track’s corners. And even though the track’s asphalt surface has weathered since its debut in 2015, it remains astoundingly smooth, which further complicates a driver’s ability to put his car’s power to the pavement. And if those issues weren’t enough, cooling is another factor teams must deal with in the Mexican Grand Prix. The thinner air means the turbo has to spin at a higher rate to inject more oxygen into the engine, and with the brakes being used for approximately 21 percent of the race’s 71-lap duration, keeping those brakes cool adds yet another degree of difficulty.

For Haas F1 Team, it’s just another day at the office. The fourth-year Formula One outfit has been challenged all season long, so a set of circumstances unique to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is nothing new for this battle-tested team. Haas F1 Team comes into Mexico City ninth in the constructors’ standings, seven points behind eighth-place Alfa Romeo and 27 points ahead of 10th-place Williams. The squad’s last points-paying finish came two races ago in the Russian Grand Prix care of Kevin Magnussen’s ninth-place drive. Magnussen’s most recent points-paying result in the Mexican Grand Prix came in 2017 when he finished eighth after starting 14th. This Mexican Grand Prix will mark Magnussen’s 100th Formula One race weekend and his 99th Formula One start, as he qualified for, but did not start, the 2015 Australian Grand Prix. Magnussen’s teammate, Romain Grosjean, also owns a points-paying performance in Mexico City – 10th in the 2015 edition, which marked Formula One’s return to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez after a 22-year hiatus.

The track, of course, was completely revamped for the series’ return in 2015, even as it followed the general outline of the original course that had been used between 1963-1970 and again between 1986-1992. The most notable changes from the old layout to the current version were an added sequence of corners comprising turns one, two and three, along with a revised set of corners through the Foro Sol baseball stadium, which was built inside the famed and feared Perlatada corner, which serves as the track’s final turn.

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez demanded respect in its first iteration, and it continues to demand respect today. With experienced pilots in Grosjean and Magnussen at the helm of its racecars, Haas F1 Team is ready for whatever comes its way.

Guenther Steiner - Team Principal. 

Typhoon Hagibis altered the Japanese race weekend schedule, where for only the fifth time in Formula One history, qualifying was held on the same day as the race. How did this alter your preparation for the race and what effect did it have on team personnel as they had a jam-packed Sunday readying cars for qualifying and the race?

“I think to do it like this, it made for a very busy Sunday. The day flew past very quickly, you’re all very busy and everything needs to be done a lot quicker. I don’t think it had an effect on team personnel, they just had to adapt, and our guys adapted pretty well. I would just say it was too much for one day – having both qualifying and the race on one day, but in those circumstances, it was the right decision. Everybody coped and I think it was an interesting race.”

Talk has intensified about changing up some race weekend schedules in the future. What’s your take on any proposed changes to the existing format and did events in Japan give you additional in-sight to what could be possible? 

“Well, there are talks to condense a Friday of a Grand Prix weekend. The talk is to just do running on a Friday afternoon, with all the other PR activities taking place in the morning. I think that would be a good way forward, especially with an extended calendar.”

The Mexican Grand Prix has won four-straight ‘Best Promoter’ awards at the end-of-season FIA gala prize giving. What is it about the event there that stands out and how do you think promoters best strike the balance of keeping teams and fans happy?

“I think it’s just the enthusiasm of the people, both of the people running it and the people attending the race. We, as teams, are always made to feel very welcome there, and everything is very well organized. I think everybody’s happy with how everything runs and obviously the fans like it.”

The Mexican Grand Prix has always proved to be a challenging event for Haas F1 Team – the highlight being Kevin Magnussen’s eighth place finish in 2017. What is it about the Mexican Grand Prix that makes this race weekend in particular such a challenge across all three track days?

“We always have cooling challenges. Going up into the altitude there, you always need cooling on the cars. You need a lot more, and that takes downforce away, and you never have enough downforce. It looks like we always suffer more on that one than all the other cars. That is our biggest challenge, to find the balance between cooling and having downforce available.”

Romain Grosjean #8

Typhoon Hagibis altered the Japanese race weekend schedule, where for only the fifth time in Formula One history, qualifying was held on the same day as the race. How did this change your preparation for the race and what effect did it have on team personnel as they had a jam-packed Sunday readying cars for qualifying and the race? 

“I actually enjoyed it quite a lot. Having qualifying and the race on the same day – yes it was a busy Sunday, but it was pretty cool. For me, it was quite a good Sunday. I enjoyed the schedule. I thought it was cool. For the crew, though, it was hard work having to jump from qualifying debrief straight into the race.” 

You achieved a degree of social media notoriety for making a model of the six-wheeled Tyrrell P34 in your hotel room on Saturday in Japan as track activities were canceled due to Typhoon Hagibis. What is the appeal in model cars and that one in particular, and were you surprised at how much attention your build generated? Will you take up Jody Scheckter’s offer to go visit the original?

“Yes, I’ll contact Jody and see if I can visit the original. It’s obviously a very special car with its history, and unique looking with its six wheels – not something you see often in Formula One. I made the model to pass some time on Saturday. We knew it was going to be a long, rainy day. I was a bit surprised as to how many people liked the idea. I’ve been building models for a long time. I’ve built a few Formula One models, some LMP1, Super GT, rally cars. I think it’s a nice way to spend some time and it gets your brain somewhere else. I enjoyed the day building it.” 

Mexico City’s notoriously high altitude means very low air density, and combined with Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez’s equally notorious slick surface, does the Mexican Grand Prix pose an even greater challenge to Haas F1 Team to get the Pirelli tires into their proper operating window and also keep the tires in that window? If so, what kind of adjustments can you make in your driving style to try and minimize this issue?

“Mexico’s been a tough one for us since our first year back in 2016. We’re just going to keep working on it and keep trying to improve our results there. It’s going to be a challenge. Obviously, the altitude is the same for everyone, but it looks like it’s impacted us quite a fair bit in the past. Maybe this year we’ll have a better understanding and we can get everything to work. Let’s see where we can go. We know it’s going to be a challenge. It’s always been our hardest track, but we’re ready for that challenge. Anything we can learn, we’ll take it.”

The Mexican Grand Prix is back-to-back with the following weekend’s United States Grand Prix. What will you do with the time in between the two races? More specifically, are there certain parts of the United States you’re able to explore before arriving in Austin, Texas?

“I’m going to go to Miami. I’ve never been there before. I’m looking to do some kite surfing. It’s no secret that it’s a passion of mine. Hopefully, there’s some wind and, if not, we’ll go surfing instead and enjoy a bit of Miami before heading to Austin.”

Kevin Magnussen #20

Typhoon Hagibis altered the Japanese race weekend schedule, where for only the fifth time in Formula One history, qualifying was held on the same day as the race. How did this change your preparation for the race and what effect did it have on team personnel as they had a jam-packed Sunday readying cars for qualifying and the race? 

“It was definitely different not doing anything on Saturday. I thought it was pretty cool having all the running on Sunday. I thought it was much better than the usual Sunday but, surely, for the team it was a hectic day. I didn’t make it any better by damaging the car in qualifying.”

Mexico City’s notoriously high altitude means very low air density, and combined with Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez’s equally notorious slick surface, does the Mexican Grand Prix pose an even greater challenge to Haas F1 Team to get the Pirelli tires into their proper operating window and also keeping the tires that window? If so, what kind of adjustments can you make in your driving style to try and minimize this issue?

“Mexico City has proven in the past to be a pretty challenging circuit for us. The track surface and low downforce means that we struggle more with the tires. I don’t know what we can do in terms of driving style, but we’ve made some good steps in terms of our understanding of the car this year. Hopefully, we’ll be alright.”

Haas F1 Team has been challenged in the Mexican Grand Prix before, most notably when you qualified 18th for the 2017 event yet rallied to finish eighth, all while holding off none other than Lewis Hamilton in the closing laps. How did you work your way to the front and what did you have to do to keep Hamilton behind you?

“The 2017 Mexican Grand Prix was pretty good for us, though our qualifying position wasn’t good. We made up some ground on the first laps of the race and enjoyed a good consistency in the car. We were able to take the tires to the end of their lives without dropping off too much. A few things happened at the front, so Lewis had fallen behind. In the closing stages of the race, he didn’t really have the pace to overtake me. I guess the race fell into our hands a little bit, but the car was also better than it had been in other years for some reason. We’ll see if we can try and replicate that this year.”

The Mexican Grand Prix will mark your 100th grand prix weekend. While you’re not one to celebrate milestones – preferring to focus on racing – what are your personal highlights from your Formula One career to date, and what piece of advice would you tell the Kevin Magnussen that debuted at Australia in 2014?

“My personal highlight, for sure, is my first race in Australia in 2014. Your first race in Formula One is always very special. It’s all exciting and new, and it’s also when you realize your dream has come true. After that, you get used to it, but that first weekend is really special. What would I tell myself – just to get on with it and enjoy it.”

The Mexican Grand Prix is back-to-back with the following weekend’s United States Grand Prix. What will you do with the time in between the two races? More specifically, are there certain parts of the United States you’re able to explore before arriving in Austin, Texas? 

“The plan right now is that we’ll go from Mexico City to Houston. We’re going to go see NASA. I’ve never seen that before. I’m looking forward to doing that between the races. We’ll then drive from Houston to Austin and enjoy a bit of a road trip.”  

PREVIEW PROVIDED BY Haas F1 Team

Red Bull Racing: 2019 Mexican GP Preview.

Alex Albon #23

After getting my best result of the season in Japan last week, I’ve got good confidence and direction heading to Mexico. Japan felt like my best weekend with the Team and we’re gelling more and more so I look forward to carrying that momentum into Mexico. Historically it’s been a good track for Red Bull with pole position and a win there last year so obviously that’s positive. Like Suzuka, it will be another new track for me but this one looks a little more forgiving! I’m also really excited to drive in the infield section where all the fans are as I’ve heard that’s pretty special. Mexico and the US will be the last back to back races of the season and I can’t wait to get out there and check out both tracks.

Max Verstappen #33

I’m looking forward to going back to Mexico as the last two years have been pretty special there with the two wins. The Mexican Grand Prix is a great event and the fans are very passionate about Formula One. The people are very friendly and they have a relaxed kind of mentality which I like, plus the food is really good. There are massive crowds at the race and the atmosphere at the track with the mariachi bands, the DJ’s on the podium and everything else the organisers put on is pretty cool. I really enjoy driving there as well as the track is very different as it’s at high altitude which makes it low grip. The corners are also very technical so you have to work hard to make sure you get the best out of it but it’s a good track for us normally. I expect it to be a little bit more difficult this year because of the Ferrari pace but I think we can still have a very good race.

Preview Provided By Red Bull Racing

McLaren Racing: 2019 Mexican GP Preview.

This year marks the 20th World Championship Mexican Grand Prix. All of the races have been staged at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, located in Mexico City’s Magdalena Mixiuhca sports park, and have been spread over more than half a century, since the country’s inaugural race in 1963.
The circuit still follows its original layout, although the infamous Peraltada final corner was bisected ahead of Formula 1 returning to Mexico in 2015, with the track now winding its way through the Foro Sol baseball stadium to end the lap.

The circuit has several unique characteristics. It has the longest run to the first corner of the season and its 2.2km/1.4-mile altitude creates interesting technical challenges, both in terms of power and downforce.

Carlos Sainz #55

“Jumping to sixth position in the Drivers' Championship after another strong weekend in Suzuka is encouraging and it only adds up to our motivation to keep pushing until the end of the year. It won't be easy to keep that position but I'll fight for it with everything we've got. We also took another important step in the Constructors' Championship, but we need to keep focussed.

"I’m excited to get back in the car for the Mexican Grand Prix. It’s an amazing event and a challenging circuit, so I’ll be making sure I give it my all and aim for good points once again. I enjoy the city a lot and how all the Mexican fans support the grand prix, so I look forward to meeting many of them over the weekend.”

Lando Norris #4

“Mexico usually gives us great racing and should suit some of the characteristics of our car, but I know that I still need to work hard to make the most of the weekend. It’s an interesting track to drive with the unique stadium section, and I’m looking forward to racing there this year after taking part in FP1 last year.

“Mexico City has a great atmosphere and the fans there are always very passionate about the race. I’m glad it will be on the calendar in 2020.”

Andreas Seidl - Team Principal

“We go to Mexico with clear objectives in mind. The high altitude at the track poses an interesting challenge when setting up the car on Friday, so we’ll be working hard to optimise our aero package for qualifying and the race.

“As we head into these final few races, our focus remains on maximising the opportunities to score points through work at the track and back at the factory. Our position in the Constructors’ Championship is not yet secured and we must keep pushing to ensure we leave nothing to chance. It’s still all to play for and I look forward to some exciting racing.”

Preview Provided by McLaren Racing

SABAT Batteries named as World RX of South Africa title sponsor.

SABAT Batteries has been announced as the title sponsor for the championship-deciding FIA World Rallycross of South Africa at Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town on 9-10 November 2019. 

The series finale, SABAT World Rallycross of South Africa will crown the 2019 FIA World Rallycross champion to top off a sensational season culminating with Swede Timmy Hansen arriving in Cape Town just one championship point ahead of Norwegian Andreas Bakkerud with younger Hansen brother Kevin just eight points behind.

"South African race fans have a grandstand seat to one of the highlights of the 2019 world motorsport calendar when the 2019 SABAT World Rallycross of South Africa crowns this year's champion following a year-long world title fight,” AutoX CEO Glenn Geldenhuis confirmed. 

"SABAT Batteries is delighted to host this incredible event and we cannot wait to watch Timmy and Kevin Hansen, Andreas Bakkerud and the rest fighting it out right here in beautiful Cape Town — see you at Killarney!”

SA karters jet off to Italy for the Rotax Max Grand Finals.

PHOTO CREDIT: motorsportmedia.co.za

South Africa’s most successful karters of the 2019 season will set off for Italy for the Rotax Max Grand Finals in Sarno, Naples from 19 to 26 October. 

The Rotax Max Grand Finals is seen by many as the Olympics of Karting, where the six Rotax Max national class champions from over 80 countries come together to fight it out to crown the best in the world every year.

2019 South African and KZN DD2 champion, Benjamin Habig from Ballito leads the elite DD2 gearbox team alongside Cape Town driver Jonathan Thomas and Wayland Wyman from Benoni in Gauteng. Pinetown KZN driver Jonathan Pieterse, Port Elizabeth racer Brett Brito and Pretoria’s Max 175 champion Nic Verheul will race in the over-30 DD2 Masters class and SA and WP champion, Durbanville lad Charl Visser will fly the flag in Senior Max. 

SA and WP champion Troy Dolinschek from Cape Town and African Open winner Aqil Alibhai out of Ormonde in Gauteng will fight it out in under-15 Junior Max, while Pietrmaritzburg’s SA under-13 Mini Max champion Troy Snyman and SA under-11 Micro Max champion Reese Koorzen from Cape Town will race in those respective primary school classes. The South African Rotax Max Grand Finals team comprises only national champions and African Open winners, or the next in line in each class. 

Run-on the most level possible playing field, the Rotax Max Grand Finals produce the closest and most competitive possible racing. Each of the 360 drivers to qualify is provided with identical and brand new ready-to-race karts, engines and all necessary equipment across the six classes, with only minor set-up changes allowed. All equipment is provided free of charge by Rotax and its global Max Karting partners and racing is run to global Rotax Max regulations.

There is additional pressure on the team, knowing that South Africa has proud history of success in the twenty years of the Rotax Max Grand Finals — South African karters have won fourteen Max world titles over the past two decades — Cristiano Morgado is a is a four-time champion, Caleb Williams, Wesleigh Orr and Leeroy Poulter have each brought two titles home apiece and Mark and Gavin Cronje, Claudio Piazza-Musso and Jayden Els are also Rotax Max Grand Final champions.

The team gathers at Sarno near Naples in Italy on Saturday 19 October in time to receive their new karts and racing equipment, before they are allowed time to fettle their new machinery in testing. Then it’s straight into qualifying before a series of heats that will see the 33 top Rotax Max drivers from around the world into the finals in the classes, with the winner of each final crowned champion a week later on Saturday 26 October.

Williams Racing: 2019 Mexican GP Preview.

It’s time for Round 18 of the FIA Formula One World Championship as we head to Mexico City for the Mexican Grand Prix. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez sits over 2km above sea level, making the 4.3km lap a breathless experience. Being the Grand Prix run at the highest altitude above sea level of the season, the race provides uniquely challenging conditions for both the team and drivers. Following on from the excitable and passionate fans in Japan, Mexico will continue the electric atmosphere with the famed baseball stadium section near the end of the lap which will be packed with fervent fans.

Both Robert and George have not driven the current track layout, which was redesigned in 2015, and look forward to the challenge of tackling a new circuit. Nicholas Latifi will continue his FP1 sessions with the team, this time taking Robert’s place around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for opening practice on Friday.

Dave Robson, Senior Race Engineer: At more than 2km above sea level, Mexico City is a tricky circuit. The aerodynamics of the car become less effective and despite the long straights, the drag sensitivity is only moderate. Cooling of the power unit and the brakes can be very difficult, and most teams will spend time evaluating options during FP1.

Pirelli have provided their middle compounds for this event, a combination that we saw recently in Russia. Warm-up could be difficult, especially in the early sessions but this should get easier as the weekend progresses.

Having brought a new front wing concept to Suzuka, we will spend time on Friday completing further testing and data gathering. Nicholas Latifi joins us this weekend for the first of three consecutive FP1 sessions. This weekend he will drive Robert’s car, before taking over George’s car in Austin. Nicholas has done an extremely good job each time he has driven the car this season and we look forward to welcoming him back and getting his impression of the latest upgrades.

Robert Kubica #88

I am looking forward to going to Mexico City. I only had the chance to drive the circuit in its previous layout for a demo run over 10 years ago, so it will be a new experience for me. It is a unique place because we run at very high altitude, so the downforce level is much lower due to the air density. I will be handing my car to Nicholas for FP1, so I will have to learn the track quickly in FP2.

George Russell #63

I think Mexico will be a challenging weekend for everybody due to the altitude of the circuit, but also the heat. It will be an interesting weekend for myself; it’s a track that I have never driven, and I always love driving new circuits. I am looking forward to the challenge and excited to go racing again.

Nicholas Latifi

I’m really excited to get back in the car in Mexico as it feels like a long time since my previous outing at Spa. I got the chance to drive in Mexico last year in FP1, so I am familiar with what to expect. It’s quite a unique track because of the elevation, so you have a lack of grip, which makes it challenging. As always, my goal remains the same for FP1, to have a clean session and help guide the team going into FP2.

Preview Provided By Williams Racing