With just four races left this season including this weekend, Lewis Hamilton has the first of four Championship points as he looks to seal his sixth Formula One title at the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix.
Ferrari meanwhile will be looking to hit back after recent slips in form whereas Red Bull and Max Verstappen are on the hunt for a third consecutive Mexican GP win, so here is everything you need to know ahead of this weekend.
Track Guide
Circuit: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Laps: 71
Race Distance: 305.354km
Tyre Compounds: C1, C2 & C3
Schedule
| Date | Session | Time (BST) |
| Friday 25 October | FP1 | 4:00pm |
| Friday 25 October | FP2 | 8:00pm |
| Saturday 26 October | FP3 | 4:00pm |
| Saturday 26 October | Qualifying | 7:00pm |
| Sunday 27 October | Race | 7:10pm* |
* Clocks go back an hour in Europe on Sunday 27 October at 2am and if live in UK, the time will be in GMT for raceday.
Three Key Pointers
- Getting the correct amount of downforce will be key to a good weekend given that Mexico is at high altitude.
- With rain potentially forecast for qualifying and the race, expect Red Bull to be firmly in the mix given the wet weather skills of Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon.
- Three long straights should help Ferrari but corner speed will be crucial to nailing the perfect lap time, especially in Sectors Two and Three.
Title Permutations
Mercedes wrapped up their sixth Constructors’ title last time out in Japan whilst Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel were all eliminated from the drivers’ title race.
Valtteri Bottas therefore is the only driver who can mathematically stop Hamilton from clinching a sixth title, having reduced his deficit to 64 points with victory at Suzuka so here is how Hamilton can seal the drivers’ championship this weekend.
- If Hamilton takes victory plus fastest lap, he will become champion if Bottas finishes fourth or lower,
- If Hamilton takes the win but doesn’t take fastest lap then he will be champion if Bottas finishes fifth or lower.
- If Hamilton finishes second with fastest lap, he will become champion if Bottas finishes eighth or lower, although if neither take the fastest lap and Bottas fails to finish higher than eighth then Hamilton will be champion.
- If Hamilton finishes third with fastest lap, he will become champion if Bottas finishes ninth or lower.
- If Hamilton finishes third without fastest lap, he will become champion if Bottas finishes tenth or lower without the fastest lap.
- If Hamilton finishes fourth or lower, the title fight continues until at least the US GP.
If missed the opening 16 rounds of this season, get up to date with our race reviews below along with our half-term report.