The 1991 Mexican Grand Prix (officially the Gran Premio de México 1991) was a Formula One motor race held on 11 May 1991 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico. It was the twelfth round of the 1991 Formula One World Championship.
Event details
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | 11 May 1991 |
| Location | Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Circuit type | Permanent racing facility |
| Course length | 2.747 km (1.706 mi) |
| Race distance | 69 laps, 189.543 km (117.714 mi) |
| Weather | Warm, dry conditions |
Qualifying
- Pole position was secured by Ayrton Senna driving for McLaren-Honda, with a lap time of 1 minute 19.538 seconds.
Race summary
- Winner: Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda) – This victory marked Senna’s first win of the 1991 season and his 36th career Grand Prix win.
- Second place: Nigel Mansell (Williams‑Renault)
- Third place: Riccardo Patrese (Williams‑Renault)
The race featured a close battle between Senna and Mansell, with Senna taking the lead after the pit stops and maintaining it to the checkered flag. Mansell set the fastest lap of the race, recording a time of 1 minute 21.800 seconds on lap 55.
Championship implications
- The win moved Senna to the top of the Drivers' Championship standings, leading ahead of his main rivals Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell.
- In the Constructors' Championship, McLaren closed the gap to Williams, although Williams retained the lead following the event.
Historical context
The 1991 edition was the fifth consecutive running of the Mexican Grand Prix after its revival in 1986. The event would be held again in 1992 before being discontinued until its re‑introduction in 2015. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, situated at a high altitude of approximately 2,240 metres (7,350 ft) above sea level, posed unique challenges related to engine performance and driver endurance.
Legacy
The race is remembered for Senna’s dominant performance on a circuit that favored high‑downforce and powerful engines, as well as for illustrating the competitive rivalry between McLaren and Williams during the early 1990s. It contributed to the narrative of Senna’s 1991 championship campaign, which ultimately concluded with him securing the World Drivers' Championship that season.