STORY OF THE DAY: Rodríguez brings Ferrari’s flat-twelve home in Mexico

Pedro Rodriguez finished seventh in Ferrari number 14 at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix, the final World Championship round of the 1.5-litre era. Racing before his home crowd at the circuit later named for him and his brother Ricardo, Rodríguez completed the event just outside the points. Richie Ginther led throughout to give Honda its first Formula One World Championship victory.

Rodríguez’s race was compromised by contact with Ferrari team-mate Lorenzo Bandini at the hairpin. Both continued, but neither could challenge the leaders after the incident. Rodríguez nevertheless brought the 1512 to the finish in a race notable for Honda’s breakthrough and Ginther’s only Grand Prix victory.

The Ferrari 1512 F1 was powered by a 1.5-litre flat-twelve engine, created to combine high engine speed with a low centre of gravity. Its semi-monocoque chassis followed the structural principles of Ferrari’s successful 158 while accommodating the wider power unit. Mexico marked the last World Championship appearance of this generation before Formula One adopted three-litre engines in 1966.

Pedro Rodríguez was a Mexican driver who developed into one of the finest all-round racers of his generation. His early career was closely connected with Ferrari sports cars, initially alongside his younger brother Ricardo, and he later won Grands Prix for Cooper and BRM as well as the 1968 24 Hours of Le Mans. His seventh place here joined Ferrari, Rodríguez and Mexico in a particularly personal home appearance.