Strategies and pit windows: Here's when F1 drivers could pit during the Mexican GP

• The Mexican Grand Prix will be run over 71 laps and could be completed on just one pitstop.
• Pirelli brought the three softest tyres in its 2023 Formula 1 tyre portfolio to Mexico.
• The Mexican Grand Prix is run at an altitude of more than 2km above sea-level.
• For more sports news, go to the News24 Sport front page.

With the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz locking out the Mexican Grand Prix front row ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, it is now a case of who will make their cars work over the next 71 laps.

The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit is a unique challenge for Formula 1 drivers as they contend with the high altitudes. The thin air is the only element to contend with, but tyre wear could also come into play.

However, according to Mario Isola, Pirelli's motorsport head, tyre degradation will not be as much of an issue.

"The aero settings on the cars are similar to those used on high-downforce circuits - only with a much-reduced effect on the tyres," he said.

"The grip from the asphalt is also much less than average, as surface roughness is among the lowest of the entire calendar."

The possible strategies

For this race, Pirelli brought the three softest compounds in its 2023 F1 tyre allocation, with data collected across Friday and Saturday's running suggesting that the quickest strategy in Sunday's Grand Prix will be a one-stop race.

As such, drivers who start on the yellow-walled Medium tyre could see the pit window open between Laps 27 and 34, switching to the white-walled Hard tyre for the rest of the race.

Alternatively, a two-stop race could see drivers switch the Mediums for the Hards, before another stop around Laps 45 and 51 to complete the final stint on the Medium tyre.

An unlikely strategy will be to start the race on the Hard tyre and run deep into the race. The pit window will open between Laps 50 and 56 as the final stint could be completed on the Soft tyre.

"This year, we have decided to bring the three softest compounds to Mexico - C3, C4 and C5 - after careful reflection based on last year's information, as well as the simulations that the teams have as always supplied to us," Isola adds.

"This should lead to a wider variety of strategy choices throughout the race, opening the door to a two-stop strategy as well. Last year, when the chosen compounds were C2, C3, and C4, nearly all the drivers stopped only once, mainly using soft and medium."