Why is Mexico always so dusty?

[u/DeliriousDecay21]

I get that the circuit is not used year around and since the circuit is in the city there may be dust/debris from the city hustle. But why isn't there an effort to clean the track via street sweeps or run support series say the weekend before or the same week? I feel like with the altitude and cooling issues there is already enough challenges. Why don't F1 make a better effort to make sure the track is ready for these cars?

[u/ffffff52]

As mexican I can clue you in on some of the reasons (I live on the other side of the volcanoes sometimes visible in ambient shots):

1- CDMX is a MASSIVE city with a impressive problem with air contamination (not China/India bad but still bad) and that contributes to the track getting more dust than usual and the city, as many in México, lacks large green areas or sufficient greenery in general so that doesnt help either.

2- Colder weather (like the one we had recently around the middle of the country) tends to create conditions where it creates an "smog dome" above CDMX making the problem in point 1 worse and its something I can see even from my city or if you ever fly to there you could also see a brownish change of colour in the air during ascend/descend stages.

3- We had had a increased amount of "dust" everywhere around the central valley thanks to the very active volcano exhaling ash continuously for nearly a year now.

4- As often mentioned, the track isnt used that often and only the stadium section can be considered as "active" year round but not for racing.

[u/DeliriousDecay21 → u/ffffff52]

Thank you for all the context! That makes more sense why it's so difficult to keep the track clean

[u/ffffff52 → u/DeliriousDecay21]

yup, the problem is generated by the city itself and in full honestly it's the main reason I would not travel there unless I really had to, sometimes I have come back with a sore throat/nose from just the exposure to that level of contamination.

I swear the smog dome sometimes looks like its expanding beyond the volcanoes/mountains now lol (check any sat images for context if needed )

[u/ArielServesProspero → u/ffffff52]

The first time I went to CDMX, my nose would not stop bleeding the whole time I was there. Combination of smog + altitude.

[u/dragonlax → u/ffffff52]

I think that’s a little harsh. CDMX is a beautiful city with incredible people, culture, and food. Like you said, China is way worse. I’ve been to both Beijing and CDMX, would go back to CDMX 10/10 times over Beijing.

[u/ffffff52 → u/dragonlax]

well that's your opinion, I never mentioned any of those aspects you praise and are not relevant to my point and the fact of CDMX been really contaminated.

[u/Parking_Brief_7050 → u/ffffff52]

Pretty informative!

[u/blahchopz → u/ffffff52]

Lived in DF for a few years and have the greatest memories! 💪🏻

[u/djdsf]

I'm just amazed it does not have a permanent yellow tint like they show in all the movies and TV shows whenever they go to Mexico. Lol

Some places wash their track, others don't. Mexico don't

[u/YouInternational2152]

Simple answer, they do. In fact, some tracks have a machine that is essentially a giant power washer to clean the track.

[u/perfildehugo]

Smog and volcano dust from this weekend eruption

[u/Luvar25]

As another mexican that lives near the track I'll give more reasons that haven't been mentioned and some interesting insights:

- The main reason why the track is dusty is because most of the equipment and cranes used to place the barriers, decals, motorhomes and everything that needs to be installed comes from construction sites, they get lended by construction companies, and some don't get cleaned before entering the track because of the short time they have to "build" the track and how difficult is to get heavy machinery to the circuit.

- The track is surrounded by streets (the one that goes next to the Foro Sol section is one of the main Mexico City streets and it's almost a highway), a metro (parallel to the main straight and grandstands) and the main airport is not that far (5 km or less) so naturally, it's really windy which brings more dust to the track (and would make the efforts to clean the track useless most of the time).

- Track is actually used, just not by cars most of time lol, the track is open to the public as a place to walk or practice cycling when there are no events, concerts are held in the Foro Sol stadium section (and sometimes all the other parts of the track are used as parking or to walk to the Foro Sol so it gets dirty from the people that walk there or leave their cars) there is another stadium next to the first 3 turns where there are baseball games.

In relation with cars, the main straight is used once a month for drag races where people can go with their cars, pay to enter the event and participate, also there are minor categories like F4, racing trucks, and turing car events as well as NASCAR Mexico which at least one of them participates here once a month, but there are also trackdays and exhibitions (next week after the race there will be an historical exhibition where a Koegnisegg Jesko will be racing the track).

[u/Ancient_Gringo]

I think the volcano near Mexico City has been spitting ash these days, that always causes problems. Also if you don’t like a higher difficulty then fuck off and skip the race

[u/teamswiftie → u/Ancient_Gringo]

I crave safety cars

[u/ApartmentMinimum5043 → u/teamswiftie]

Yesterday league raced there 100% distance, alot of crashes occured (11/20 finished) yet not a single SC seen. Pussies left it on reduced

[u/Sparky_Zell]

Look at it on satellite images. It's in a fairly barren city surrounded by desert or scrubland. And it's in the center of the country, so humidity is going to be much lower. All of that means that the air in general is going to be really dusty.

[u/SuppaBunE → u/Sparky_Zell]

You havent really see satellite imsge then,

Mexico city is surroud ed by forrest. The city itself its barren because its one of the more populated areas. Theres not enought green areas in the city for the people that live there.

Theres not even a desert near the city in hundred of kilometers.

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[u/carlossap]

Smog. The air literally smells like trash all over the city.

[u/DeliriousDecay21 → u/carlossap]

😥