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LIVE FP1 | Formula 1 2019 Mexican Grand Prix - Which team can handle the altitude?

LIVE FP1 | Formula 1 2019 Mexican Grand Prix - Which team can handle the altitude?

25-10-2019 15:00

Yeeeharr! It's time for the Mexican Grand Prix weekend! Can Lewis Hamilton win his sixth Formula 1 world championship title at the venue again, or will Valtteri Bottas be able to delay the surely inevitable celebrations? Find out what happens in the opening session of the weekend in our liveblog below! 

Can Lewis Hamilton win his sixth title? (liveblog below)

Hamilton needs to outscore his teammate, Bottas, by just 14 points to win his sixth title. That means if Hamilton wins the race on Sunday, Bottas will need to finish on the podium to keep his slim hopes alive. Considering Bottas has won just three races across the 2019 F1 season, it's a testament to him for finding himself where he is. If Hamilton fails to outscore Bottas by 14 points, the title battle will roll on into the United States Grand Prix weekend. 

The altitude...

The 4.4km track is over 2,000m (7,500ft) above sea level. The higher altitude means the air is thinner which in turn makes it harder for the cars to keep cool. This could be a key factor this weekend with Mercedes already downplaying their chances to win the race. We know exactly what happened when they struggled to handle the heat in Austria though the Silver Arrows have added upgrades since then...

In 2017 and 2018, the Renault engine has mastered the conditions with Max Verstappen standing on the top step of the podium in both years. Now Aston Martin Red Bull Racing work with Honda. Will the Japanese engine manufacturer be able to help produce the same result for the Flying Dutchman? 

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