The 1968 Mexican Grand Prix was a

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

motor race held at the Ciudad Deportiva Magdalena Mixhuca on November 3, 1968. It was race 12 of 12 in both the 1968 World Championship of Drivers and the 1968 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. This race was to determine the World Drivers' Championship, contested between Britons Graham Hill in the

Lotus 49 The Lotus 49 was a Formula One racing car designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe for the 1967 F1 season. It was designed around the Cosworth DFV engine that would power most of the Formula One grid through the 1970s. It was one of the fi ...

B-

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

and Jackie Stewart in the Matra MS10-Ford, and defending champion, New Zealander

Denny Hulme Denis Clive Hulme (18 June 1936 – 4 October 1992), commonly known as Denny Hulme, was a New Zealand racing driver who won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship for the Brabham team. Between his debut at Monaco in 1965 and his f ...

in the

McLaren M7A The McLaren M7A and its M7B, M7C and M7D variants were Formula One racing cars, built by McLaren and used in the world championship between 1968 and 1971. After two relatively unsuccessful years of Formula One competition, the M7A was used to s ...

-Ford. The race was moved back a week so as not to clash with the Mexico City Summer Olympics, which ended on October 26. Hulme started with a mathematical chance of becoming world champion, but his McLaren broke a rear suspension member early, crashed, and caught fire.Kettlewell, Mike. "Grand Prix Racing South of the Border", in Ward, Ian, executive editor. ''World of Automobiles'' (London: Orbis, 1974) Volume 12, p.1332.

Jo Siffert Joseph Siffert (; 7 July 1936 – 24 October 1971) was a Swiss racing driver. Affectionately known as "Seppi" to his family and friends, Siffert was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, the son of a dairy owner. He initially made his name in racing ...

took the lead, but had to pit with a broken throttle cable. Stewart fell back with when his engine started to misfire, his car's handling began going off, and had a fuel-feed problem. Hill won this race and his second Drivers' Championship, after Stewart fell back to seventh after an engine problem with his Matra.Kettlewell, p.1332. The Mexican government's effort to curb civil unrest led to a switch from military police to unarmed policemen and track marshals for crowd control; by race end, spectators were encroaching on the track itself. This was one reason for the ultimate cancellation of future Mexican ''Grands Prix''.

Classification

Qualifying

Race

Championship permutations

*Coming into this race, 3 drivers had a chance to win the title. ** Graham Hill (39pts) needed either *** A podium place, with Stewart 2nd or lower *** 4th or 5th, with Hulme 2nd or lower and Stewart 3rd or lower *** 6th, with Hulme 2nd or lower and Stewart 4th or lower *** Hulme 2nd or lower and Stewart 5th or lower ** Jackie Stewart (36pts) needed either *** 1st *** 2nd, with Hulme 3rd or lower and Hill 4th or lower *** 3rd, with Hulme 2nd or lower and Hill 6th or lower *** 4th, with Hulme 3rd or lower and Hill 7th or lower ** Denny Hulme (33pts) needed *** 1st with Hill 4th or lower

Championship standings after the race

;Drivers' Championship standings ;Constructors' Championship standings *Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

Classification

Qualifying

Race

Championship permutations

Championship standings after the race

References

Further reading