Located within the expansive Ciudad Deportiva Magdalena Mixhuca sports complex in eastern Mexico City, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is one of the world’s most distinctive permanent racing circuits. Since opening in 1959, it has hosted Formula One, endurance racing, touring cars, Formula E and numerous national championships, becoming the spiritual home of Mexican motorsport.
Named in honour of legendary Mexican racing brothers Ricardo Rodríguez and Pedro Rodríguez, the circuit combines high-speed straights, technical corners and one of motorsport’s most iconic stadium sections. Yet its defining characteristic lies beyond the layout itself: situated at an altitude of more than 2,200 metres above sea level, it presents engineering challenges found nowhere else in international motorsport.
In Brief
- The circuit is named after Mexican Formula One drivers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez.
- At approximately 2,240 metres above sea level, it is the highest-altitude venue regularly used by Formula One.
- Teams use Monaco-level rear wings while achieving Monza-like top speeds because of the thin air.
- The Foro Sol stadium section is one of the most recognisable spectator areas in world motorsport.
- Formula One first raced here in 1963 and returned permanently in 2015 after a major redevelopment.
- The circuit’s altitude challenges engines, cooling systems, aerodynamics and drivers more than any other Formula One venue.
History
Construction of Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez began during the late 1950s as Mexico sought a permanent international-standard racing circuit capable of hosting the world’s leading championships. The circuit officially opened in 1959, immediately attracting attention from international competitors thanks to its speed and unusual high-altitude location.
The venue originally bore the name Magdalena Mixhuca Circuit, before being renamed in honour of Ricardo Rodríguez following his fatal accident during practice for the 1962 Mexican Grand Prix. After the death of his older brother Pedro in 1971, the circuit adopted its current name, commemorating two of Mexico’s greatest racing heroes.
Formula One first visited in 1963, and over subsequent decades the circuit became known for dramatic championship battles, passionate crowds and its demanding physical conditions. Following an extensive redevelopment, Formula One returned in 2015, introducing the spectacular Foro Sol stadium section that has since become one of the championship’s defining images.
Today, the circuit hosts Formula One, Formula E, NASCAR Mexico, endurance racing and numerous national motorsport events, remaining the centrepiece of Mexican motorsport.
Circuit Design
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez measures 4.304 kilometres in its modern Formula One configuration. The layout combines one of the championship’s longest full-throttle sections with a mixture of medium-speed corners, heavy braking zones and the famous stadium complex passing through Foro Sol.
Despite its long straights, the circuit demands considerably more than low-drag efficiency. The combination of high altitude, technical corners and reduced aerodynamic performance forces engineers to balance straight-line speed with mechanical grip and vehicle stability.
Modern revisions have preserved the historic character of the circuit while improving safety, particularly through the redesigned final sector, where cars now pass through the stadium before returning to the pit straight.
LENGTH
4.304
kilometres
WIDTH
10–15
metres
DIRECTION
CW
clockwise
TURNS
17
7 left – 10 right
SURFACE
Asphalt
LONGEST STRAIGHT
1,288
metres
ELEVATION CHANGE
3.1
metres
OPENED
1959
67 years ago
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is defined by the contrast between its extremely high-speed sections and the slow, technical sequences that interrupt them. Mexico City’s high altitude reduces aerodynamic downforce and drag, giving the circuit an unusual character in which cars achieve exceptional straight-line speeds while simultaneously having less aerodynamic grip available through the corners.
The opening sector begins with one of the circuit’s principal braking challenges, as competitors arrive at very high speed before negotiating a tight sequence of corners where stability and accurate positioning are essential. The middle of the lap becomes progressively more technical through a succession of direction changes that reward rhythm and mechanical grip, particularly as the reduced downforce makes the car less secure than the corner speeds might suggest. The final sector passes through the stadium complex before reaching the famous Peraltada section, where maintaining a clean trajectory and strong exit is essential for maximum speed along the main straight.
Although the modern layout is considerably different from the circuit that once featured the original high-speed Peraltada, its defining challenge remains the same: balancing extraordinary straight-line performance against limited aerodynamic grip. Drivers who brake confidently, remain precise through the technical sequences and maximise traction onto the long straights are generally rewarded most strongly.
| Corner |
|---|
| T1 083° · Right · 27 m |
| T2 070° · Left · 15 m |
| T3 070° · Right · 13 m |
| T4 092° · Left · 21 m |
| T5 111° · Right · 26 m |
| T6 134° · Right · 45 m |
| T7 066° · Left · 36 m |
| T8 040° · Right · 61 m |
| T9 065° · Left · 86 m |
| T10 066° · Right · 45 m |
| T11 046° · Left · 40 m |
| T12 076° · Right · 21 m |
| T13 136° · Left · 39 m |
| T14 074° · Right · 32 m |
| T15 024° · Left · 37 m |
| T16 103° · Right · 36 m |
| T17 075° · Right · 150 m |
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez occupies a central position in Mexican motorsport and represents the country’s most important international racing venue. Located within Mexico City, the circuit has brought the highest levels of global competition directly into one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas and has become inseparable from Mexico’s Formula One heritage.
The circuit is best known as the home of the Mexican Grand Prix, first hosting Formula One World Championship competition in the 1960s before returning during subsequent periods and, most recently, becoming one of the modern championship’s most atmospheric events. Its enormous crowds and distinctive stadium section have helped establish Mexico City as one of Formula One’s most recognisable race weekends. The venue is named in honour of Mexican racing brothers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez, two figures whose international careers remain fundamental to the country’s motorsport identity.
Beyond Formula One, the circuit has welcomed an unusually broad range of international championships, including World Sportscar competition, Champ Car, NASCAR, Formula E and contemporary endurance racing, alongside Mexican national categories. This diversity demonstrates the venue’s importance beyond a single championship and its ability to connect successive generations of Mexican spectators with international motorsport.
Its significance is therefore both sporting and cultural. Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is not simply Mexico’s principal racing circuit; it is the stage through which the country has repeatedly presented its motorsport culture to the world, combining the legacy of the Rodríguez brothers with one of the most passionate spectator environments in international racing.
Visitor Experience
Few circuits match the atmosphere of Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Enthusiastic Mexican fans create one of Formula One’s most vibrant race weekends, with the Foro Sol stadium becoming a natural amphitheatre where tens of thousands of spectators witness cars passing only metres away.
Outside international race weekends, the circuit hosts national championships, manufacturer events, driving experiences and public activities throughout the year. Its location within Mexico City also allows visitors to combine motorsport with one of the world’s great cultural capitals, exploring museums, historic districts and renowned gastronomy.
Climate
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rainfall mm | Rainy days | Daylight h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20° | 7° | 21 | 4 | 11.1 |
| February | 22° | 8° | 18 | 4 | 11.5 |
| March | 24° | 10° | 25 | 6 | 12.1 |
| April | 26° | 11° | 44 | 9 | 12.6 |
| May | 25° | 12° | 74 | 15 | 13.1 |
| June | 23° | 13° | 177 | 20 | 13.3 |
| July | 22° | 12° | 217 | 27 | 13.2 |
| August | 22° | 13° | 221 | 26 | 12.8 |
| September | 21° | 12° | 201 | 24 | 12.2 |
| October | 20° | 11° | 99 | 15 | 11.7 |
| November | 20° | 9° | 33 | 7 | 11.2 |
| December | 20° | 8° | 14 | 3 | 11.0 |
Monthly averages for Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, 1991–2020.
Generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026 (CC BY 4.0).
Neither the European Commission nor ECMWF is responsible for any use that may be made of the Copernicus information or data it contains.
Location
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is located within Ciudad Deportiva Magdalena Mixhuca, approximately eight kilometres east of the historic centre of Mexico City. The circuit benefits from excellent public transport connections, including direct access via the Mexico City Metro, and lies only a short distance from Mexico City International Airport.
Its high-altitude setting distinguishes it from every other major circuit on the Formula One calendar.
Address
S/n Viaducto Río de la Piedad
08400 Ciudad de México
Ciudad de México
Mexico
Website