The 2021 Formula 1 season returns with a triple-header of Grand Prix races that begins with the Mexican GP from November 5 onwards.
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The Mexican Grand Prix has been a consistently entertaining presence on the Formula 1 calendar in recent years. First held in 1962, the race did not return after 1970 until 2015. Since 2015, the Mexican GP has been a part of the calendar – except for 2020.
Last year’s edition of the race was on the original calendar, but did not feature in the revised calendar. The reason for this was travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Notably, there were no races in any part of the Americas last year due to this very reason.
But the race is back this year and will play a key part in the world championship hunt. It is a circuit where Red Bull have done well in recent years. But Mercedes have won three of the last five races held in Mexico City.
They’ve won the last four races between them ?

But who will be the Master of Mexico this weekend? ?

And the stakes couldn’t be higher for title rivals @Max33Verstappen and @LewisHamilton #MexicoGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/LHNG7c2C0u— Formula 1 (@F1) November 1, 2021
All in all, fans can expect another good race this weekend – and maybe even the prospect of a home hero win, given the presence of Sergio Perez in Red Bull.
With that in mind, let us briefly look back at how the last five editions of the race panned out.
Hamilton has not quite been as dominant in Mexico as he has been elsewhere, but he’s still had his moments. The last edition of this race held saw him take the win; it also saw him edge closer to a sixth world championship, although this race win did not confirm his title win.
Hamilton started the race in third, with Max Verstappen in fourth after being handed a three-place grid penalty; he originally took pole. Hamilton would drive a steady race, pitting on Lap 23 and gaining positions due to the undercut. He eventually found himself leading and would hold on to the lead, using a one-stop strategy to perfection.
This was one rare race in the 2018 season where Red Bull were quicker than everyone else. Indeed, qualifying saw them take a 1-2 with Daniel Ricciardo in pole and Verstappen in second. And while neither driver was in title contention, the race ultimately came down to them.
It was Verstappen who won out, getting a better start than teammate Ricciardo and holding on to the lead. To make matters worse, Ricciardo had to retire due to technical issues. Elsehwere, Hamilton won his fifth world championship by finishing in fourth-place. Going into the final two rounds, he held a 64-point lead over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
Another year, another win for Verstappen and another title sealed for Hamilton. However, the race originally looked like it could see Vettel make one final fist of things in the world title fight. The gap to Hamilton was significant but mathematically, he still had a chance. To help his case considerably, he took pole position.
What didn’t help matters, however, was a collision on the first lap caused by Vettel; he first clipped Verstappen and then caused Hamilton to suffer a puncture. In the process, Vettel also damaged his front wing and thus also needed to pit. This meant that, by the next lap, Vettel and Hamilton were 19th and 20th, respectively. They both finished in the points, with Vettel finishing higher in 4th. However, Hamilton’s 9th place was enough to hand him the title.
This was the one year so far in the turbo-hybrid engine era that Hamilton did not win the title. However, it wasn’t down to a lack of trying on his part. Coming into the race, the title was for sure going to a Mercedes driver; it was just a matter of who that man would be. Nico Rosberg led the standings at that point, with Hamilton in second.
Hamilton would take pole and go on to win the race, thus narrowing the points gap even though Rosberg finished second. However, the major news was when Vettel and Verstappen were demoted in the grid; the Dutchman finished third but was penalised for cutting a corner. Vettel was given a penalty for a dangerous block on Ricciardo, thus handing the final podium spot to the Australian.
Coming into this race, the world title had already been decided. Hamilton’s win at the United States GP saw him crowned world champion for the second straight year. However, tensions were building in Mercedes and neither him nor Rosberg were likely to give an inch.
It was Rosberg who was quickest all weekend, both in practice and qualifying. And it was thus little surprise that he took the chequered flag in first, almost 2 seconds ahead of Hamilton. Elsewhere, Ferrari had a forgettable weekend as both Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen had to retire from the race.
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