An Inside Look at the Mexican GP Paddock

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What makes the Mexico City GP so special?

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The Mexican Grand Prix, also known as the Mexico City Grand Prix, is one of the most exciting races on the Formula 1 calendar. It was first introduced as a championship event in 1963 and held races from 1963-1970 and then 1986-1992 before it was taken off the Formula 1 calendar. F1 re-introduced the Mexican Grand Prix to the calendar in 2015 and it is now contracted to host this event until 2025.

The Autódromo Hermanos Rodriíguez is located in the Magdalena Mixhuca public park and has the highest elevation in comparison to any other track on the calendar. The altitude causes the air to be much thinner than other locations which has major implications on the drivers and their cars. It adds an extra element of difficulty and really tests the drivers abilities and fitness within the car. 

This circuit has one of the most famous sections out of all the Formula 1 tracks. The Foro Sol section of the track, also known as the stadium section, is located at Turn 14 and 15 and is essentially a converted grandstand area that was originally a baseball stadium, home to the Diablos Rojos del Mexico. This area is infamous for the insane views of the track and for the gorgeous decorations on the circuit that highlight the culture of Mexico City. This is also where the circuit hosts the podium celebration at the end of the Grand Prix. 

Now that we’ve covered some of the history of the Mexican Grand Prix, let’s get into what the Paddock experience is like!

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Arriving at the track

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Just like many other circuits, it is not an easy endeavor reaching the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The traffic in the city is quite chaotic and depending on where you are staying, it can take up to an hour to get to the track.

If you’re curious on the best ways to get to the circuit, check out our guide that details the most efficient ways to reach the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

We had the Paddock tickets for the Saturday of the race weekend (FP3 & Qualifying) and decided to take an uber down to the circuit. It was fairly easy and quite inexpensive, but the traffic definitely makes the trip feel much longer than it needs to. The biggest tip for reaching the circuit would be factoring more time than you think you may need so you don’t miss any of the on track action!

We arrived at the track around 9:30am in the morning. This is definitely earlier than most people would choose to arrive at the circuit but we had one goal in mind: See the drivers arriving in the Paddock!

By the time we got there, most of the drivers had already arrived in the Paddock but we did get to see the hometown hero, Sergio Perez, come in! It was a surreal experience seeing the hustle and bustle within the Paddock. Perez could barely move; he was being mobbed by all the journalists, fans, and reporters. Despite the chaos around the drivers, the rest of the Paddock was fairly empty as everyone was just slowly arriving.

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Williams Garage Tour

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As we were walking down the Paddock and checking out all of the motorhomes, we ran into our friend Patrick Harding, Alex Albon’s Performance Coach. He offered to show us around the Williams garage and give us an insider look into the behind the scenes of the team. We had a chance to hold Albon’s helmet and feel the weight of it which was such an amazing experience! 

The cars didn’t have their covers on, so we weren’t really allowed to take any photos, but it was so amazing getting to see the inner workings of an F1 car. Learning what certain aspects do and even just getting to see the engine uncovered was so surreal. My favorite part was that we got to stand in the pitlane and see all the teams setting up their garages for the day. This was such a once-in-a-lifetime experience and my favorite part of the day even though  it was only 10AM! We had so much more exploring to do and we couldn’t wait for the on track sessions to begin.

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Exploring the Paddock

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The Paddock itself felt like its own little world. There was a taco stand that had the BEST tacos al pastor I’ve ever had. That taco stand basically fed the entire Paddock! There was also a bar where you could get Heineken beer throughout the day and an ice cream stand for a mid-day sweet treat.

One of the coolest things in the Paddock was the stand that sold customizable merchandise. Basically if you brought a piece of merch or even just a personal clothing item, you could get them to screen print a custom design on it and have it ready within 24 hours. Since we were only in the Paddock for one day, we weren’t able to do it, but I would recommend it to anyone attending the Mexican Grand Prix with Paddock passes.

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I really loved seeing all of the broadcasts taking place. They would just set up their microphones and cameras in the middle of the paddock and interview drivers, team personnel, and certain guests all throughout the day. It was very cool to see the set up for F1TV and watch them do their Pre and Post session segments. 

One thing that surprised me was how relaxed the Paddock was. Drivers and team personnel would just walk by you and sometimes go unnoticed. There was more than one occasion where I walked right by a driver and didn’t realize until it was too late! Of course, crowds tend to form which then makes it more obvious, but occasionally, a popular personality would sneak out of the motorhome and head somewhere without gaining any attention.

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Seeing and Meeting Drivers

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Just as you would expect, you see all the drivers walking around the Paddock and heading to their media duties, garages, and motorhomes. I was lucky enough to see Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Kimi Antonelli, Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Lando Norris all in close proximity. I even got a photo with Fred and Charles!

This was something I definitely took time to consider though. As much as you want photos with these people, they are constantly getting bombarded and I’m sure the chaos within the Paddock isn’t fun for them. So just be sure that you’re being respectful when approaching someone within the Paddock. I was lucky that I caught Fred and Charles before major crowds approached them. 

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The best times to see drivers around the paddock is right before and right after an on track session begins. This is when they’ll be heading to and from the garage and making their way over to the media pen which was also set up right in the middle of the Paddock.

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Media Pen

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I LOVED seeing the media pen up close and personal. I thought that it was one of the coolest things getting to see where all the post session interviews took place. It was also very convenient because they streamed the sessions there, so we were able to watch some on track moments right from the media pen itself. We didn’t linger around the pen as it gets extremely crowded when the drivers are there doing their interviews. 

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If you want a good view of the driver interviews, I would recommend staking out a spot just before the end of a session. That way you’ll be able to watch your favorites recap their results and any notable moments from on track!

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Watching Qualifying

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For FP3, we were mainly wandering around the paddock and taking it all in. We were able to make our way right down by the track in the Foro Sol section to watch the final minutes of FP3. I loved seeing the cars on track, but it was also just amazing to see the Foro Sol section in all of its glory! The crowd was so loud and the colors were so vibrant, it was just an amazing thing to witness.

For qualifying, we were able to head up to the Paddock Club viewing area which also overlooked the Foro Sol section. This area was amazing and the atmosphere was undeniably fun. Everyone was chatting and socializing and the view of the track was incredible.

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Up there were other food and beverage options such as tacos, pizza, and little snacks as well as beer and champagne. There was also a full sized F1 car that was completely bejeweled in honor of Dia de Los Muertos. 

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It was amazing to watch Carlos Sainz claim pole position from this area. We were also lucky to see one entire section set up for the F1 movie starring Brad Pitt! There were fans holding up fake cut out faces and signs in support of the fictional drivers who will be starring in the film. 

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Closing thoughts

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Overall, the Paddock experience in Mexico was one of the best days ever. It was so surreal and a major ‘pinch me moment’. As a longtime Formula 1 fan, the Paddock has always seemed very out of reach because of its exclusivity and high prices. To be able to experience it first hand was something I’ll never forget and it was beyond special to do so with my close friends, colleagues, and family. 

I’m so grateful for the experience and I hope that it’s not the last time we get to do such an amazing thing! 

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Summary and Tips

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• Plan out your route to the track ahead of time! As I mentioned, traffic is so terrible, so be sure to find the best option for you
  • Check out our transportation article to help you plan out your mode of transportation!
• Come prepared for the weather! It was cool in the mornings and I would always be wanting a jacket, but then around 11AM, it would get so hot. I actually got sunburnt, so make sure you’re prepared for all the elements!
• There wasn’t really a ‘designated’ spot to watch the sessions from. There were screens all around the Paddock, but crowds would form in front of them as everyone was trying to see what was happening
  • When you arrive in the Paddock, I would recommend spotting a few of the screens ahead of time so you know the best watching options near you
• I would bring some of your own snacks. There is a taco bar there but other than that, there weren’t too many other food options in the Paddock.
• You will definitely run into drivers in the paddock, so if you want them to sign merchandise, make sure you bring your own sharpie!
  • That being said, make sure you are being respectful and polite when asking for a picture or signature
• If you have multiple days in the Paddock, bring a piece of clothing or merchandise so that you can get it custom tailored!
  • It takes a day for them to finish it so you can only do this if you have access to the Paddock for more than one day

Looking for more on the Mexican Grand Prix?

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If you are looking to purchase tickets for the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, check out P1 travel as they have the best seats and prices for all of the grandstands and seating options.

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Be sure to check out our other Mexican Grand Prix articles to ensure you maximize your trip to Mexico City!