Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2026: Mercedes will focus on improving the consistency of its latest car upgrade and finding the right setup window as the team heads into the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix.

The team believes its recent update has delivered additional performance, but extracting that potential consistently remains a challenge. The issue was particularly evident for George Russell during the United States Grand Prix weekend in Austin, prompting Mercedes to prioritise further analysis ahead of the next round.

In his pre-race assessment, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said Austin had demonstrated both the potential of the latest upgrade and the areas where the team still needed to improve.

“We have added performance, but accessing it consistently is proving more challenging. George suffered particularly with that last weekend and, as a team, our focus is on understanding why and helping get the car into a better window,” Wolff said.

With the championships becoming increasingly competitive, Wolff stressed that Mercedes would maintain its focus on execution rather than becoming distracted by the title standings.

“The championships are moving closer, but our mindset does not change. Thinking about the outcome won’t help us achieve it. We will stay disciplined, take each session as it comes, and concentrate on doing the fundamentals well,” he added.

Frederik Vesti to Drive in FP1 at Mexico City GP

Mercedes third driver Frederik Vesti will take over Russell’s car for the opening free practice session in Mexico City, giving the team an opportunity to gather additional data and assess its car performance.

Wolff said Vesti would play an important role in the team’s Friday programme, highlighting his ability to provide precise and useful feedback as Mercedes works to understand its latest developments.

Vesti, meanwhile, expressed his enthusiasm about returning to the cockpit for another FP1 outing. The session will provide valuable track time as he continues to develop his understanding of the car while contributing to the team’s preparations for the race weekend.

“I’m really excited to be back in the car once again for FP1 in Mexico. It’s always a great opportunity to get more time behind the wheel, continue learning and, most importantly, help the team with its work across the weekend,” Vesti said.

High Altitude Presents Unique Challenge for Mercedes

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez presents a distinctive engineering challenge because of Mexico City’s high altitude. The thinner air affects aerodynamic performance and cooling, while the circuit’s long straights allow cars to reach some of the highest speeds of the season.

Vesti explained that the conditions create an unusual balance between aerodynamic requirements and straight-line performance.

“It’s often described as running Monaco-level downforce while seeing Monza-like straight-line speeds, which creates a fascinating challenge for both the drivers and engineers,” he said.

The circuit also features a mix of slow, tight corners and faster, flowing sections, requiring teams to find a compromise between front-end performance, mechanical balance and grip.

Managing tyre degradation and selecting the right race strategy are equally important, with the combination of technical corners and high-speed sections often producing an unpredictable contest.

Vesti, who has driven in FP1 at the circuit on previous occasions, said he was looking forward to returning to Mexico, praising the atmosphere created by the fans and the excitement the race typically delivers.

For Mercedes, the immediate priority will be to maximise the information gathered during Friday practice, refine the setup and ensure its latest upgrade delivers consistent performance throughout the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend.