F1 in Mexico City: Yet another Ferrari fiasco, but that’s not all

There was plenty of drama on and off the track for Formula 1 this weekend.

The short version

• It might not be as high as Pikes Peak , but at an elevation of 7,350 feet (2,240 m) above sea level, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez provides a unique challenge on the F1 calendar.
• Wings that would create huge amounts of downforce at circuits like Monaco just generate Monza-like levels in Mexico, and there’s little slipstream effect when following another car.
• Cooling tends to be a problem, too, with insufficient airflow across radiators, and obviously engine power is reduced with less oxygen to burn.

What happened

The track is very flat, with a rather low-grip surface and mostly medium- and slow-speed corners, including a processional route through a stadium that was built in the 1990s, plus a very long run from the start into turn 1. Friday’s first practice saw 10 rookie drivers substitute in for series regulars—each team must run a young or test driver in each of their two cars at least twice in a season.

Why it matters

Make that six times in the case of Cadillac?

Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Ars Technica via the links above and below.