Mexico 1970: Formula 1 stars in shock, fans on the track, dog run over

Formula 1 circuits are so well secured these days that it’s almost impossible to get anywhere near Antonelli, Verstappen, Hamilton and the rest. More than 400,000 fans are expected here in Mexico this weekend, but we’re unlikely to see a single fan on the track whilst the race is underway.

55 years ago, however, it was sheer madness. Back then, the Mexican circuit was called Magdalena Mixhuca, a name derived from the Church of Santa María Magdalena Mixhuca, which is dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene.

The circuit was only renamed in the 1970s, following the death of Pedro Rodríguez, in honour of the racing brothers, and is now known as the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Presumably, Mary Magdalene kept a particularly watchful eye over the circuit in 1970. For 200,000 fans at the time were determined not to miss the action, and when many of them realised they wouldn’t make it onto the site in time via the normal entrance gates, they simply trampled down fences, climbed onto any scaffolding they could find to catch a better view, or contentedly squatted right on the edge of the track in the grass.

Auf der Suche nach dem besten Platz

Foto: Grand Prix Photo

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The race organisers considered cancelling the race. But the Mexican organisers feared riots if the crowd were left with nothing to watch. For some fans, the whole thing had already gone on far too long anyway. So they threw bottles and the like onto the track as a sign of their displeasure.

Local hero Pedro Rodríguez and world champion Jackie Stewart were sent onto the track to appeal to the fans’ sense of reason. When Stewart and their idol Pedro stood before them, the fans nodded, obediently moved behind the crash barriers, and as soon as the Scot and his Mexican racing colleague were out of sight, they advanced onto the grass again.

After a further delay (the shards of glass on the track had to be cleared), the race was finally given the go-ahead, and the Mexican donkeys didn’t seem to mind at all that cars were whizzing past them at 300 Sachen. Some got on with their picnic, completely unaware that they were putting themselves and the drivers in mortal danger.

Formula 1 world champion Stewart then actually ran over a track spectator – a stray dog. “It happened so fast that there was nothing I could do,” the Scot lamented.

Ickx vor Stewart in Mexiko 1970: Fans ganz dicht an der Strecke

Foto: Grand Prix Photo

Meanwhile, the first fans had begun to leisurely cross the track. They presumably thought they’d have a better view from the other side. Police officers tried in vain to stop them.

When the chequered flag finally came down, marking a one-two victory for the Ferrari aces Jacky Ickx and Clay Regazzoni, there was no stopping the crowd; the track was completely obscured by the throng of people. The Belgian Ickx left his Ferrari at the start-finish line and fled.

Some cars got stuck in the crowd during the cool-down lap; the racing cars were mercilessly stripped of their parts, and the fans took whatever wasn’t bolted or nailed down.

Gleich wird der Sieger-Ferrari von Jacky Ickx geplündert

Foto: Grand Prix Photo

As a punishment, the motor racing association removed the race from the calendar; it was not until 1986 that a Formula 1 World Championship round was held in Mexico again.