1968 Mexican Grand Prix

Championship standings

Graham Hill leads on 39 points, Jackie Stewart is three behind on 36, and Denny Hulme is a further three back on 33. It is the first time in four years that three drivers are still in title contention heading into the season finale.

Previous race

Stewart won at Watkins Glen, leading every lap of the 108-lap race. Hill finished second after struggling with a loose steering column for much of the distance, crouch-driving to compensate. Surtees rounded out an all-British podium in third. Andretti ran second before his Lotus bodywork broke away on lap nine, eventually retiring with clutch failure. Hulme spun on an oil patch, dropped to the tail, had a brake pipe repaired, and then suffered a driveshaft failure late in the race — ending his challenge significantly. Stewart’s win put him three points behind Hill ahead of Mexico.

Between-race developments

The race has been pushed back one week to avoid a clash with the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics, which concluded on 26 October. Ickx returns to the Ferrari line-up after his leg injury in Canada.

Championship permutations

Wikipedia’s race article summarises the title scenarios: Hill would win his second championship — six years after his first — while Stewart has the chance to claim his maiden title. If Hulme wins the championship, he would become the first driver since Jack Brabham in 1960 to successfully defend his title.

Entrants

A third Lotus is driven by Mexican driver Moises Solana, who out-qualified regular Lotus driver Jackie Oliver. BRM run only Rodríguez.

Milestones

Jo Siffert took pole position in Rob Walker’s Lotus — the first pole position for a Swiss driver.

Practice

Siffert heads the grid from Chris Amon’s Ferrari. Hill and Hulme share the second row. Dan Gurney and Surtees are on the third row; Stewart starts from row four.