F1 Mexican Grand Prix 2026: Race start time and TV coverage in Mexico City
Formula 1 heads to Mexico City for the 20th round of the 2026 season, where Kimi Antonelli could secure his first world championship.
Khel Now reported the schedule for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. Motorsport Magazine said Sky Sports F1 will broadcast every session live, while Channel 4 will provide free-to-air highlights.
Key takeaways
- The race takes place at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City on Sunday, November 1.
- Khel Now listed practice, qualifying and race start times for the 2026 event.
- Motorsport Magazine reported Sky Sports F1 will show all sessions live.
- Channel 4 will provide free-to-air highlights.
- ESPN said Antonelli needs a ninth-place finish or higher to seal the drivers' title.
Formula 1 heads to Mexico City for the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the 20th round of the 2026 season, as Kimi Antonelli looks set to secure his first title.
Motorsport Magazine reported the race is scheduled for Sunday, November 1, while Khel Now published the full weekend schedule covering practice, qualifying and the race.
ESPN said Antonelli extended his lead in the title to 123 points from George Russell after winning the United States Grand Prix. He will simply need to finish ninth or higher in Mexico City to seal the title.
Speedcafe reported that would make the 20-year-old the youngest champion in Formula 1 history and the first Italian to win the drivers' title since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
When and where is it?
Motorsport Magazine said the race starts at 8pm GMT on Sunday, November 1, at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.
ESPN described the circuit as one of the most vibrant atmospheres on the calendar, with fans congregating in the thousands to cheer on home hero Sergio Perez.
It is a true anomaly on the calendar due to the high altitude of 7,300 feet (2,200 metres), which presents a unique challenge for teams and drivers. Teams can run Monaco-level downforce packages while still reaching Monza-esque top speeds.
One of the iconic parts of the track is the Foro Sol stadium section, which includes two tight corners in a former baseball stadium.
Who is taking part?
ESPN said Formula 1 drivers will compete across the grid. Kimi Antonelli leads the championship for Mercedes after winning the United States Grand Prix. ESPN reported Charles Leclerc finished second in Austin for Ferrari, with Max Verstappen third for Red Bull. Lando Norris took pole position in Mexico for McLaren, his first pole since the Belgian Grand Prix in July.
How does it work?
Motorsport Magazine said the weekend follows the conventional format, with two practice sessions on Friday, a final hour of practice on Saturday and qualifying that evening. The race takes place on Sunday. 30pm GMT and ending with the grand prix on Sunday evening.
Sky Sports Main Event will also carry selected sessions, including the grand prix. Sky Sports subscribers can stream the Mexican GP weekend through the Sky Sports app or Sky Go.
Those without a Sky subscription can watch through NOW, which offers live access via a Day Membership or a cancel-anytime Month Membership. The official F1 app provides live timing, results and session updates, though live video coverage is not available through the app in the UK.
15am on Monday, November 2.
Why it matters
304km Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will host the 71-lap race, with its long main straight, heavy braking into Turn 1 and tight stadium section providing a distinctive challenge. Situated more than 2200 metres above sea level, the circuit's thin air reduces aerodynamic downforce and cooling efficiency.
This weekend marks the 26th running of a Formula 1 World Championship race in Mexico and the sixth under the Mexico City Grand Prix name, having previously been known as the Mexican Grand Prix.
The first championship event took place in 1963, a year after a non-championship race at the venue, while the grand prix returned to the calendar in 2015 following a 23-year absence.
Since that return, Max Verstappen has dominated the event, winning five of the 10 races held and setting the record for most World Championship victories in Mexico.
Those five wins have also made Red Bull the most successful constructor at the event, ahead of McLaren on four, including Denny Hulme's triumph in 1969.
Lewis Hamilton is the only other driver on the current grid to have won in Mexico more than once, taking victory for Mercedes in 2016 and 2019.
The last three editions have produced three different winners for three teams, with Verstappen successful in 2023 before Carlos Sainz won for Ferrari in 2024 and Lando Norris took victory for McLaren last year.
What happens next
Motorsport Magazine said the battle for second in the standings should continue to heat up. Speedcafe reported Hamilton remains mathematically in contention, sitting a further point behind Russell. ESPN said Antonelli could be crowned F1 champion in Mexico.
Even a finish outside the points could be enough if neither Russell nor Hamilton wins the race. Should Antonelli finish 10th, only a Russell victory could keep the championship alive for another round.
Speedcafe reported Oscar Piastri faces a very different milestone to avoid after another difficult race in Austin left him without a podium for 14 consecutive grands prix.
It is his longest such run since his first 15 races in Formula 1 in 2023, meaning another finish outside the top three would equal that stretch.
Related on Apex Sports News
How to stream the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix on F1 TV Premium
2026 Mexico City Grand Prix schedule set for October 30 to November 1
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