Home F1 FIA shares Mexico circuit changes, DRS; Pirelli reveals test plans

F1, FIA, Mexico GP — MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 28: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using a variable planed lens.) Yuki Tsunoda of Japan driving the (22) Scuderia AlphaTauri AT04 on track during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 28, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202310280656 // Usage for editorial use only //

FIA shares Mexico circuit changes, DRS; Pirelli reveals test plans

24/10/2024

The FIA has shared details regarding the track limits for F1 Mexico GP along with DRS zones, as Pirelli also reveals its testing plans.

The track limits for F1 Mexico GP will remain the white lines edges, but the FIA Race Director put extra lines for drivers re-joining the track at Turn 4 and Turn 11 specifically, where if they don’t do as per the pre-race weekend note, the lap is likely to be invalidated by the stewards.

“Any driver whose car passes completely behind the red and white kerb at the apex of Turn 11 must re join the track by keeping to the right of the first polystyrene block arrangement and then wholly to the left of the second polystyrene block parallel to the on the exit of the corner,” said the note regarding Turn 11.

For Turn 4, it added: “If a driver overshoots the corner at Turn 4, there is a small road to the left of the asphalt run-off area which leads back on to the track prior Turn 6. Please ensure that your drivers use this when necessary.”

In terms of the DRS zones, the first one’s detection is 70m after Turn 9 and activation is 80m after Turn 11. At the same time, the detection for second and third zone is at the exit of Turn 15. The activation for the second is changed from 165m to 240m after Turn 17 and third’s activation is 115m after Turn 3.

Moving on to the FIA stewards panel, it will be led by Tim Mayer, where he will have the able support of Loic Bacquelaine, Johnny Herbert and Alfonso Ores Trigueros. As is the norm, the circuit has list of changes as well, which includes resurfacing between Turn 12 and Turn 15 and some of pitlane area. They are:

The concrete walls between Turn 9 and Turn 10 on LHS have been realigned.
The concrete wall between Turn 12 and Turn 13 on LHS has been extended.
The concrete wall between Turn 13 and Turn 14 on LHS has been realigned.
Between Turn 11 and Turn 12, in the area of the medical center, a part of 50 meters distance has been resurfaced.
The track has been resurfaced between Turn 12 and Turn 15.
Several small areas have been resurfaced in the pit lane.

Outside the FIA note, Aston Martin informed about Fernando Alonso missing the official press conference after getting ill ahead of his 400th grand prix weekend. He decided to rest on Thursday and come back for FP2 on Friday, with Felipe Drugovich driving in FP1 as part of rookie driver rule.

“Fernando Alonso is feeling unwell and will therefore not attend media day at the Mexico GP,” said Aston Martin in a small statement. “Fernando is focused on feeling 100% for Friday and his planned return to the AMR24 for Free Practice 2.”

The F1 Mexico GP weekend will see a tweak especially on Friday which will be dedicated to Pirelli tyre testing. While the FP1 and FP3 sessions will run as it is, the FP2 will see all the 20 drivers run the 2025 compound – mostly the C4, C5 and C6 – for an extended 90 minutes.

Every driver will complete a designated programme as set by Pirelli – on same amount of fuel and same number of laps – which includes a performance run and a long run. To undertake it, the drivers will get two additional compounds where one will be identical to the weekend’s tyre to form a baseline.

It will then be compared with the option 2025 compound. There will exception for regular drivers who will not be part of FP1. They will undertake the Pirelli test in the first 60 minutes and then run its own weekend programme in the next 30 minutes, where an additional medium tyre will be given to them.

FP1 driver changes –

Mercedes: Andrea Kimi Antonelli for Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari: Oliver Bearman for Charles Leclerc

Aston Martin: Felipe Drugovich for Fernando Alonso

Kick Sauber: Robert Shwartzman for Zhou Guanyu

McLaren: Pato O’Ward for Lando Norris

Here’s FIA Race Directors’ note: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2024%20Mexico%20City%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Race%20Director’s%20Event%20Notes.pdf

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