Isack Hadjar
Isack Hadjar
© XPB Images

F1 Mexico Grand Prix qualifying as it happened

Live updates from FP3 and qualifying from the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix

KEY MOMENTS

  • Qualifying in Mexico begins at 20:00 GMT
  • Lando Norris was fastest in FP3
  • Max Verstappen has a grid penalty 

The 2026 Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix continues on Saturday 31 October with final practice and qualifying ahead of Sunday's race. 

The Mexico City Grand Prix could see Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli crowned world champion for the first time, if he finishes ninth or higher on Sunday. 

Antonelli was fourth-fastest on Friday afternoon at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit in Mexico City, though he trailed Mercedes team-mate George Russell on the timesheets.

Ferrari once again, as it did at COTA, made a good start to the weekend, with Charles Leclerc fastest in both sessions in his upgraded SF-26. 

But team-mate Lewis Hamilton was only 11th after suffering with mechanical issues in FP2. 

Max Verstappen was fifth after FP2, but the Red Bull driver has a one-place grid penalty following a collision with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson on Friday. 

The Kiwi has also netted himself a one-place grid drop for his part in the incident. 

Isack Hadjar is also under scrutiny for an incident involving a fan while walking through the paddock on Friday. 

McLaren had mixed fortunes on Friday afternoon, with Lando Norris up in second, while team-mate Oscar Piastri was 10th. 

2026 Mexico City Grand Prix Saturday schedule

FP3 - 17:30 GMT - 18:30 GMT

Qualifying - 21:00 GMT - 22:00 GMT

31 Oct 2026
21:42

The drivers at risk at this stage are:

  • Gabriel Bortoleto
  • Ollie Bearman
  • Franco Colapinto
  • Lando Norris
  • Lewis Hamilton
  • Carlos Sainz
21:41

After the opening stint in Q2, here are the top 10:

  1. Max Verstappen
  2. Charles Leclerc
  3. Arvid Lindblad
  4. Kimi Antonelli
  5. George Russell
  6. Nico Hulkenberg
  7. Liam Lawson
  8. Isack Hadjar
  9. Oscar Piastri

  10. Pierre Gasly

     

21:39

Max Verstappen has taken control in Q2 as he set a 1m16.876 and holds a 0.068 second advantage over the field 

21:38

The Mercedes drivers went for a different strategy as they completed two building laps and ended up in third and fourth, with Kimi Antonelli ahead of George Russell

21:37

After the first runs were completed in Q2, Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets ahead of Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson

21:33
Q2 is underway

The second qualifying session is underway, and the Mercedes drivers were the first drivers out on track

21:33
Multiple drivers under investigation

There are three drivers who will be investigated after qualifying for"Failing to follow the race directors' instructions".

These drivers are:

  • Lewis Hamilton
  • Valtteri Bottas
  • Gabriel Bortoleto
  • Sergio Perez
21:31

Fernando Alonso was unable to finish Q1 due to a suspected water pressure issue, which was linked to the ERS system

21:27
Drivers out in Q1

Here are the six drivers who have been eliminated after Q1:

  • Alex Albon
  • Fernando Alonso
  • Ryo Hirakawa
  • Lance Stroll
  • Sergio Perez
  • Valtteri Bottas
21:26
Chequered Flag

The Chequered Flag has been waved, and Q1 has come to an end, with Lewis Hamilton at the top of the timesheets

21:25
Fernando Alonso under investigation

Fernando Alonso is now under investigation for 'general safety', which was due to him not reattaching his steering wheel

21:23

With 2 minutes left, drivers will get one more go at this, but Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen are all in the pits

21:21

With 4 minutes left of the session, here are the top 5:

  1. Lewis Hamilton
  2. Charles Leclerc
  3. Oscar Piastri
  4. Lando Norris
  5. Kimi Antonelli
21:20
Drivers at Risk

Here are the Drivers at Risk as it stands:

  • Alex Albon
  • Fernando Alonso
  • Ryo Hirakawa
  • Lance Stroll
  • Sergio Perez
  • Valtteri Bottas
21:19

Charles Leclerc has jumped to the top of the timesheets with a 1m17.532, with Lando Norris in second, and Kimi Antonelli in third 

21:18

The drivers who did not complete a lap time before the Red Flags are about to set their first competitive lap times...

21:17

Pierre Gasly has jumped to the top of the timesheets with a 1m18.194, with Nico Hulkenberg now in third behind Lewis Hamilton

21:16

The majority of drivers are back on track, except for Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri

21:14
Fernando Alonso noted

Fernando Alonso has been noted for 'general safety' as he did not fit the steering wheel back to his Aston Martin after he got out of the car

21:14
Green Flags

Q1 is back underway, with 11:07 left on the clock in the opening qualifying session

21:11
Q1 Restart Time

Q1 will resume at 21:14 GMT (15:14 Local Time)

21:10

With 11 minutes on the clock, here are the drivers at risk:

  • Charles Leclerc
  • Max Verstappen
  • George Russell
  • Isack Hadjar
  • Liam Lawson
  • Arvid Lindblad
21:10
Current Top 10

Here are the top 10 at the current moment during this Red Flag period:

  1. Lewis Hamilton
  2. Oscar Piastri
  3. Fernando Alonso
  4. Carlos Sainz
  5. Oliver Bearman
  6. Nico Hulkenberg
  7. Ryo Hirakawa
  8. Alex Albon
  9. Gabriel Bortoleto
  10. Sergio Perez
21:08

Fernando Alonso was the cause of the Red Flag after Aston Martin told the Spanish driver to stop the car on the track

21:07
Red Flag

We have a Red Flag in Q1