McLaren’s Mexico altitude plan extends beyond the drivers

Mexico City’s altitude makes preparation a team-wide task for McLaren, not just a driver issue. Mechanics, engineers and operational staff can face long, physically and mentally demanding days at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the team says. Its preparation runs throughout the year, combining fitness work with education on sleep, nutrition and recovery.

Emer Acton, McLaren’s Head of Physiotherapy and Human Performance, says education comes first. Before people arrive, the team explains that mild headaches, fatigue, breathlessness and disrupted sleep may occur during the first few days at altitude. These early changes improve for most healthy people as they acclimatise, Acton says; persistent or worsening headaches, repeated vomiting, significant dizziness, breathlessness at rest or confusion require medical review.

Acton says environmental simulation can have a role for drivers or a specific physiological objective. For a larger travelling group, she sees more opportunity in routines that can be applied across the team: sensible training, hydration, nutrition, sleep and recovery. In Mexico, McLaren advises staff to adjust exercise intensity to the conditions and how they feel, rather than chase their usual standards. Acton describes wearable readings as decision support, not a diagnosis, and says they should be considered alongside how a person feels.