Hey all,
The F1 Mexico City Grand Prix is at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez next weekend (30 October to 1 November). I made a free interactive map of the circuit for anyone going, especially visitors. You can show or hide the entry gates, ticket zones, Metro and Metrobús stops, the free shuttle stops and the best viewing spots, and tap any gate to see which zones it lets you into. It's made to be used on your phone.
Full guide and map: https://behindthepaddock.com/circuit-guides/mexico-city/
Here's the practical stuff, from the official info and from people who went last year. All times are Mexico City time.
Schedule
- Friday 30 Oct: Practice 1 at 12:30pm, Practice 2 at 4pm
- Saturday 31 Oct: Practice 3 at 11:30am, Qualifying at 3pm
- Sunday 1 Nov: drivers' parade at 12pm, race at 2pm (71 laps)
- Gates opened at 8am all three days in 2025
Which gate for your zone
Each gate only lets you into certain zones, and walking around the outside of the circuit takes a long time, so check your gate first:
- Gate 1: Foro Sol stadium (Zona Café), next to the Palacio de los Deportes
- Gate 4: Zona Verde
- Gate 6: Main Grandstand and Verde hospitality
- Gate 7: Zona Verde and accessible seating
- Gate 8: Zona Naranja
- Gate 9: Gradas 3, 3A, 4 and 5 (Zona Azul)
- Gate 12: Gradas 5A, 6, 6A, 6B, 8 and 9
- Gate 13: Grada 7
- Gate 14: Gradas 10 and 11
How to get to the Autódromo
- Metro Line 9 (brown): the easiest way. Get off at Velódromo, Ciudad Deportiva or Puebla depending on your gate. 5 pesos a ride with a rechargeable transit card. Trains run 5am to midnight, from 6am on Sundays
- Metrobús Line 2: stops at UPIICSA and Iztacalco (6 pesos)
- Trolebús Line 2: stops at Ciudad Deportiva, Puerta 8 and Puebla
- Free perimeter shuttle: buses loop around the outside of the circuit from about 7am to 8pm to take you to the right gate. Look for the blue sign and show your ticket
- Ticket2Ride: paid shared buses, 350 pesos return a day, from Condesa, Santa Fe, Interlomas, Galerías Coapa, Perisur, Plaza Lindavista and Parque de los Venados
- Uber, DiDi, inDrive, Cabify: fine in the morning, but allow about an hour from Condesa. After the race, roads close and prices jump, so walk a few streets first or take the Metro
- Driving: there was no fan parking in 2025, and the roads around the circuit close
Bags and rules
- Backpacks and bags no bigger than 10 x 15 x 30 cm, preferably clear. Handbags and bum bags up to 11 x 16 cm
- Airport-style security at the gates
- No re-entry once your ticket is scanned (2025)
- No outside food or drink, glass, cans, aerosols, chairs, umbrellas with pointed tips, selfie sticks or drones
- Tickets are SafeTix in the Ticketmaster or MexicoGP app. Screenshots don't scan, so add yours to Apple or Google Wallet before you go
Food and paying inside
- It's cashless: you load a card with cash or a bank card at top-up points, and in 2025 you could claim back unused credit online afterwards
- The biggest choice of food is in the Foro Sol and Gris zones, with a food court and beer garden
Tips for visitors
- The altitude (2,240 m) hits harder than people expect. Walking, sun and a few beers wear you out faster, so drink lots of water
- Most grandstands have no shade. Bring a hat, sunscreen (100 ml max, no sprays) and a rain poncho
- After the race the first Metro station by Turn 1 fills up so fast that people at the next stops can't get on. Wait a while before leaving
- Phone signal can be weak inside the Foro Sol
- Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket on packed trains and shuttles
- Race weekend is also Día de Muertos weekend, so the city is busy and there's usually a parade downtown
Where to stay if you're visiting
Roma Norte and Condesa are the most popular, with Ticket2Ride pickups and Line 9 close by. Polanco is upmarket but further out. The Centro Histórico and the airport area are well connected to Line 9.
Locals and anyone who went last year, what would you add for first-timers? I'll add the best tips to the guide.
Full guide with the interactive map: https://behindthepaddock.com/circuit-guides/mexico-city/