Formula 1 is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the motorsport world. The races consist of ridiculously-engineered cars capable of hitting 200-plus miles per hour, all jostling for the fastest laps and top spots while navigating countless straights and turns. The drivers are considered some of the best in the world. Now imagine a passionate crowd cheering for their favorite teams, wrapped up in the already-festive atmosphere of Day of the Dead, and you get the Mexico Grand Prix. Our weekend experiencing all of this was as memorable as it was fun.
A lovely Sunday with some of the front runners in the shot
By now it had become an annual tradition. First it was Austin in 2016. Then came Japan in 2017. The tradition continued this year as my college roommates and I planned out our first-ever trip to Mexico City, in time for the Mexico Grand Prix race weekend as well as Day of the Dead.
Read on for a complete breakdown of our race weekend experience, as well as everything you need to know about taking your own trip for the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix!
How We Got Tickets
As we’d done the previous years, we purchased tickets on the official Formula 1 site. After a good amount of research beforehand, our group decided to shell out a bit more money this time around to snag seats at Foro Sol Sur (grey zone) at turn 14. It was more than worth the cost – our reserved seats provided us an excellent view of a key section of the track, had a giant TV broadcasting the race and replays, and was also the location of the podium ceremony and post-race celebration. We purchased our tickets about 4 months before the race, and the physical tickets came in the mail about 6 weeks before our trip.
Traveling to Mexico City
Once we snagged our tickets, we turned our attention to flights. There were plenty of direct flights to Mexico City so we didn’t have any trouble booking a good one. Once again, I used my credit card sign-up bonus points from Chase to book a free roundtrip flight from SFO to MEX, which ended up being an easy 4 to 4.5 hour flight each way.
Massive crowds rushing the track to watch the podium ceremony
If you’re looking for a new credit card to score free flights, check out the Chase United MileagePlus Explorer Card. You’ll receive 40,000 bonus miles (worth at least a $400 flight) if you hit the minimum purchase requirement in 3 months. You also get free checked bag, priority boarding, and lounge pass benefits for United flights. Use my referral link to learn more about the card and to apply – I’ve used plenty of the benefits myself and highly recommend it!
Where We Stayed
Mexico City is a huge place and there are so many neighborhoods that choosing a place to stay can feel overwhelming. I’ll make things easier by recommending a few spots depending on your budget and preferences. If you’re looking for lots of food and bar options and enjoy artsy and hip neighborhoods, check out Condesa and Roma Norte. If you’re more into the historical or cultural aspects of a city, try Centro Histórico or Coyoacán. And if you prefer high-end shopping and fine dining, consider Polanco.
I’d highly recommend staying at an Airbnb. There are a ton of amazing homes with modern amenities and impressive decor. And cost-wise, they’re relatively affordable, especially if you’re going with a group. We stayed at a modern apartment during our trip for 8 nights, and the cost per person came out to ~$30/night!
Getting to the Circuit
Our overall experience getting to the circuit during race weekend was simple and straightforward. Even though you’ll run into some traffic, Uber is the easiest and most efficient option. You can call an Uber pretty much anywhere in the city and the total cost will likely be $10 or less each way. There was even a special waiting area for post-race Uber rides in a re-purposed warehouse. The place was surprisingly fancy and comfy, with bottled water, seating, and outlets to charge phones. Even with a small wait after the race, calling an Uber from the pickup area took about the same time as walking further out of the racing circuit zone to call one.
Massive crowds rushing the track to watch the podium ceremony
Another option is taking the Metro. Depending on your seating area, you can get off at Velódromo, Cuidad Deportiva, or Puebla stations. For more detailed info and a map of the Metro, check out the F1Destinations guide.
The Circuit: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
Named after Mexico’s most famous racing siblings, Ricardo and Pedro Rodriguez, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was built in 1959 and hosted its first F1 Grand Prix in 1963. After an extended hiatus starting in the early 90s, the circuit returned to the F1 calendar in 2015.
The circuit itself is divided into several zones, and each zone contains everything attendees need for race weekend, from merchandise to food to drinks. Unlike a track like Suzuka in Japan, this one restricts ticketholders to the zone marked on their ticket. There weren’t many food options – the track offered personal pizzas, sushi, and hot dogs, along with chips and beer. There were also people selling concessions at the grandstands, so it was easy to grab another beer or some snacks during the races.
Entry and exit were super easy. Plenty of employees and volunteers were around to help point the way. And the security lines moved quickly, so we were inside not long after getting dropped off.
Race Day
After exploring our area and catching the Qualifying Race on Saturday, we were well acquainted with our zone and enjoyed the Big Race on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The crowds were exuberant during the starting lap and continued their cheering throughout the race. The race itself played out pretty normally – no major surprises. Max Verstappen put in a solid drive to win the Mexico Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton finished the race with enough points to lock in the 2018 Driver’s Championship.
The F1 Crew at Mexico GP
The post-race celebration was something else. The circuit opened the gates to the track, and the crowd rushed onto the asphalt to watch the podium presentation. Trance producer and legend Armin van Buuren was there to congratulate his fellow countryman Max on his win and closed out the weekend with an epic DJ set. Looking out at the crowd from our grandstand, I was filled with awe at the number of passionate fans that had made this a weekend to remember.
Check out the race highlights below:
What an amazing weekend filled with incredible racing, great people, and festive vibes!
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