1986 Mexican Grand Prix

Previous race

At Estoril, Mansell took his fifth win of the season, leading every lap from pole. Senna held second until running out of fuel on the final lap, dropping to fourth and promoting Prost to second and Piquet to third. The result secured the Constructors’ Championship for Williams — their third in all. Senna’s final-lap misfortune ended his title challenge.

Championship standings

Mansell leads by ten points over Piquet, with Prost one point further back. Two races remain.

Circuit

The Mexican Grand Prix returns for the first time since 1970 at the refurbished Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. The circuit has been shortened and modified from its previous layout, though the fearsome Peraltada — a banked 180-degree right-hander taken at 275 km/h — remains, with more run-off area and slightly less banking than before. Mexico City’s high altitude affects engine performance, and the circuit surface is notably bumpy, as the track sits on Mexico City’s geologically active terrain. The race was originally scheduled to return in 1985 but was cancelled following the 1985 Mexico City earthquake.