Friday at the Mexico City Grand Prix
Friday practice is where teams start turning their plans for the Mexican Grand Prix into data. This preview covers the start times for both sessions, the full Mexico City schedule, the weather forecast and how to watch live. The fragment doesn’t provide the session times or forecast details, so those specifics can’t be confirmed here.
The event is listed as a preview for the 2026 Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix. Michael Banovsky published the article on October 29, 2026, at 6:31 p.m.
The Mexico City weekend has a championship on the line, but the more revealing test may be how Mercedes handles the pressure. Kimi Antonelli arrives after a dominant United States Grand Prix, where he earned his ninth win of the season. He leads Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 123 points; Lewis Hamilton is one point further back. With 125 points available over the final five rounds, ninth place or better in Mexico would secure Antonelli’s first drivers’ title. Antonelli’s profile and Mercedes’ account of its Austin turnaround put the scale of that run in context.
The constructors’ race is less straightforward. Mercedes has a 133-point advantage over Ferrari, but must outscore the Italian team by 39 points in Mexico to clinch the championship. That’s a far steeper demand than Antonelli’s title-clinching target.
Mexico also gives Sergio Perez a milestone in front of his home crowd: his 300th Formula 1 start. He remains one of the country’s biggest sporting draws, though his Cadillac is unlikely to put him in contention at the front. Perez’s record and Cadillac’s plans for the occasion add weight to a weekend that could otherwise be dominated by the title fight.
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Photo: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Where to watch the Mexico GP
Broadcast options depend on your location. In the UK, Sky Sports holds exclusive live rights to every session during the 2026 season; viewers can stream through Sky Go or NOW, while Channel 4 will show highlights free-to-air. In the United States, Apple TV carries every session under its multi-year deal. F1 TV remains the championship’s global subscription streaming service.
Motorsport.com will provide live coverage and updates throughout the Mexico GP weekend.
Friday practice times
All times below are for Friday, October 30. The two sessions are separated by three and a half hours in Mexico City.
Mexico City: Free practice 1 starts at 12:30pm CST; free practice 2 begins at 4:00pm CST.
UK: FP1 is at 6:30pm GMT, with FP2 at 10:00pm GMT.
US Eastern: FP1 starts at 2:30pm ET and FP2 at 6:00pm ET.
Full Mexico GP weekend schedule
All times are local to Mexico City:
- Friday, October 30 — Free practice 1, 12:30pm CST
- Friday, October 30 — Free practice 2, 4:00pm CST
- Saturday, October 31 — Free practice 3, 11:30am CST
- Saturday, October 31 — Qualifying, 3:00pm CST
- Sunday, November 1 — 2026 Mexico Grand Prix, 2:00pm CST
Weather outlook
Friday should open sunny and dry, with temperatures of roughly 23–25C during FP1. The afternoon is forecast to bring more cloud and temperatures around 24–25C; a brief shower is possible, though any rain is expected to be light. Winds should stay light, leaving teams useful conditions for early setup work and long runs.
Saturday could reach 26–27C around qualifying, with another chance of a short afternoon shower. Sunday’s race is currently forecast to be sunny and dry, with temperatures near 26–27C at the start. Forecasts can shift, but the early picture gives teams little reason to plan around a wet race.
Mexico GP circuit facts
- Circuit: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
- Location: Mexico City, Mexico
- Event: Mexico GP
- Type: Permanent road course
- Friday: Free practice 1 and free practice 2
- Saturday: Free practice 3 and qualifying
- Race: Sunday, November 1
- Length: 4.304km
- Corners: 17
- Race distance: 71 laps / 305.584km
The circuit sits more than 2,200 metres above sea level. That altitude thins the air and complicates cooling, aerodynamics and power-unit performance, even though the track layout is relatively conventional. The long main straight and the stadium section give the lap its distinct character.
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Photo: Manuel Eletto / Getty Images
2026 Formula 1 driver and team roster
F1 driver line-ups
The grid brings together established champions, rising prospects and returning names. That mix is clearest at Mercedes, where George Russell is paired with Kimi Antonelli, and at Red Bull Racing, where Max Verstappen has Isack Hadjar alongside him. The full team-by-team line-up is below.
United States GP Sunday in photos
For a visual recap of race day, browse the United States GP Sunday photo gallery, featuring Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman and Nico Hülkenberg.
