Technical Analysis - Mexico

F1i technical expert Nicolas Carpentiers provides you with images and explanations of the updates on display at the Mexican Grand Prix.

PRICK UP YOUR EARS!

The returning Mexican Grand Prix presented all F1 teams with a unique set of challenges, which forced them to adjust their existing packages instead of actually introducing new upgrades. In order to cope with the thinner air one encounters at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which is located at an altitude of 2,285 metres, engineers had to increase their challenger’s cooling capacity.

This first translated into bigger brake ducts, but teams also tweaked the bodywork in an effort to channel more airflow towards the coolers at the back.

Mercedes, which had already sampled its Mexico installation in the US, Toro Rosso, and Sauber all added a couple of ear-shaped inlets on each side of the airbox. These gills feed extra cooling air to the gearbox or hydraulic oil radiator, while the airbox alone usually suffices.

Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Nicolas Carpentiers

Nicolas Carpentiers is F1i.com's resident technical expert, providing in-depth technical analysis and casting his critical eye across the developments of the teams throughout the season.

Recent Posts

Vowles warns 2026 weight limit will catch F1 teams out

When F1’s radically redesigned 2026 cars finally roll out in Barcelona at the end of…

10 hours ago

Why Verstappen isn’t expecting much running at F1’s first test

Max Verstappen has never been one to sugar-coat reality – and as Formula 1 braces…

12 hours ago

Revolut’s CMO slams Ferrari: ‘How can you put blue on a red car?’

Ferrari have survived decades of criticism about strategy calls, driver politics and pit stops that…

13 hours ago

Mercedes 2026 advantage in doubt after concerning claim

While the paddock has been whispering for months that Mercedes might be holding the winning…

14 hours ago

Our salute on this day to Big Dan

Dan Gurney passed away on this day in 2018, and here at F1i we'll never…

16 hours ago

Jules Bianchi’s final kart recovered after theft

What began as a painful reminder of loss has ended with a moment of profound…

17 hours ago