The format of the Mexican Grand Prix modified

The 2024 Mexican Grand Prix will feature a slightly modified schedule. FP2, initially scheduled to last 60 minutes, will be extended to 90 minutes, giving drivers an extra half hour on the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit. This extension will take place on Friday October 25, as confirmed by the race organizers.

This extension of the program is due to the testing of the new soft tires from Pirelli, which wishes to prepare the introduction of these compounds for the 2026 season. The manufacturer plans to use this session to allow the teams to test the tires in real conditions and thus collect essential data for the future.

A valuable opportunity for teams

This additional half hour represents an excellent opportunity for the teams to adjust their settings in preparation for the Grand Prix while focusing on evaluating the new tires.

The teams will thus be able to collect valuable data on the performance of the tires in the specific conditions of the Mexican circuit. FP2 will begin at midnight and end at 1:30 a.m. Paris time, providing an optimal night testing window.

Pato O’Ward joins list of drivers in action

In addition to this extension of FP2, Mexican driver Pato O’Ward will take part in the first free practice session (FP1) as part of the young driver program. McLaren decided to put O’Ward, an IndyCar regular, behind the wheel of the Papaya single-seater.

The Mexican will thus have the opportunity to shine in front of his home crowd alongside Sergio “Checo” Pérez, the other national representative during this race weekend.

Decisive tests for the future of Pirelli tires

The decision to extend FP2 shows the importance of these tests for Pirelli and for the teams. The results obtained during this session will play a crucial role in the development of tires for 2026, a season which promises to be full of challenges with the arrival of new technical regulations.