Mexican Grand Prix 1965 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Richie Ginther delivered Honda their maiden Grand Prix victory at the season finale in Mexico City, providing the Japanese manufacturer with a landmark triumph that justified their Formula 1 investment and marked a watershed moment for Asian motorsport. The American driver claimed victory at the high-altitude Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, leading home Dan Gurney's Brabham-Climax and Mike Spence's Lotus-Climax to complete the podium. Ginther's triumph came in only Honda's second season of Grand Prix racing, showcasing the Japanese manufacturer's remarkable progress and engineering dedication. The victory was particularly sweet for Ginther, who had spent years as the perennial nearly-man with BRM, finally securing his maiden Grand Prix win at the age of 36 in what would prove to be his final season. The Mexican finale provided a fairytale ending to a season that had been dominated by Jim Clark's brilliance, demonstrating that even established teams could be beaten by commitment and technical innovation.

Ginther controlled the race with authority despite the challenges of Mexico City's 7,350-foot altitude, which reduced engine power and tested both machinery and driver fitness throughout the grueling afternoon. The American's Honda RA272 handled the thin air better than expected, with the transverse V12 engine delivering sufficient power to hold off Gurney's persistent challenge. Gurney pushed hard throughout in his Brabham-Climax, keeping Ginther honest but unable to find a way past the flying Honda. Spence secured an excellent third place for Lotus, substituting for the injured Jim Ireland and demonstrating his growing reputation as one of Britain's most promising young drivers. Clark finished well down the order after his championship-winning Lotus suffered mechanical issues, though the Scotsman's season had already been secured with six dominant victories. The race showcased Honda's V12 engine at its best, with the complex twelve-cylinder design proving both powerful and reliable in the demanding conditions.

The Mexican Grand Prix marked a historic milestone not just for Honda but for Asian motorsport as a whole, proving that Japanese manufacturers could compete successfully at Formula 1's highest level. Honda's victory came just 17 years after Japan's post-war motorsport ban was lifted, representing an extraordinary achievement in technical development and competitive ambition. Ginther's triumph vindicated Honda's decision to enter Formula 1, providing validation for the significant investment and technical resources the company had committed to Grand Prix racing. The victory would inspire decades of Japanese motorsport success, establishing a template for Honda's future dominance and encouraging other Asian manufacturers to follow. For Ginther, the win provided the perfect conclusion to his Formula 1 career, as he would retire after the season having finally achieved Grand Prix victory. The 1965 season finale demonstrated that Formula 1's competitive landscape was evolving rapidly, with new manufacturers and technologies capable of challenging the established British and Italian teams that had dominated the sport's early decades.