20:28
Charles Leclerc continues to extend his lead and is now 4.5 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen!
Antonelli starts fourth in Mexico City
F1 Mexico Grand Prix as it happened
Relive the 2026 Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Kimi Antonelli crowned champion
- Max Verstappen won the Mexico GP
- Lewis Hamilton finished second
The 2026 Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix concludes on Sunday 1 November with the 71-lap race.
The 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix could become an historic day in F1 history, as Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli aims to become the youngest world champion ever.
The Italian only needs to finish inside the top nine to guarantee he leaves Mexico as F1's newest world champion.
But he faces a tough afternoon. Feeling unwell, Antonelli has not been as fast as nearest title rivals Lewis Hamilton and George Russell so far this weekend.
Antonelli will go from fifth on the grid, while Russell starts second.
Lewis Hamilton scored his first pole as a Ferrari driver and his first since 2023, after a stunning final lap in Q3 to clinch top spot. Ferrari has looked strong all weekend in Mexico.
Charles Leclerc will start from third, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen was demoted to fourth due to a penalty for a collision with Liam Lawson in practice.
Lawson was thrown out of the qualifying result due to a technical breach with his Racing Bulls.
At Haas, Ryo Hirakawa will make his F1 race debut on Sunday, after being drafted in last-minute to replace the ousted Esteban Ocon.
The race starts at 8pm GMT.
20:25
Oscar Piastri has had a strong start to the Grand Prix. The Australian driver has made five places and is currently running in seventh place, but is 6.5 seconds behind his teammate in sixth place
20:24
Charles Leclerc currently holds a 3.8-second lead ahead of Max Verstappen... but the penalty is still looming over him
20:23
As a reminder, both Aston Martin drivers are out of the race, and only completed 5 laps
20:22
George Russell penalty!
George Russell has now been handed a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision on the opening lap of the race!
20:21
Charles Leclerc penalty!
The race leader, Charles Leclerc, has been handed a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage at the start of the race!
20:20
Top 5 as it stands
After 11 laps of racing, here is how the top five currently look after the VSC period:
- Charles Leclerc
- Max Verstappen
- Lewis Hamilton
- Kimi Antonelli
- George Russell
20:19
George Russell under investigation
The stewards are now investigating George Russell for 'causing a collision) at Turn 6 on the opening lap of the race
20:17
Back to green!
The virtual safety car is in and we are back to green flag conditions. None of the front runners pitted during that VSC, with it coming a little too early.
20:15
Virtual Safety Car!
The virtual safety car is out on lap seven with Stroll stopping by the side of the track with a problem in his Aston Martin.
20:08
Hamilton and Leclerc under investigation
The incident between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Turn 4 on the opening lap, is now under investigation
20:07
Turn 4 Incident Noted
An incident between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Turn 4 has been noted by the stewards
20:06
Sergio Perez was a fast starter at his home Grand Prix, as he made up six places, and is in 14th
20:05
Isack Hadjar spun on the opening lap and is now at the back of the field
20:05
At the end of the opening lap, the top five look like this:
- Charles Leclerc
- Max Verstappen
- Lewis Hamilton
- Kimi Antonelli
- George Russell
20:04
Charles Leclerc has quickly taken the lead away from his teammate, and Max Verstappen is into second place
20:03
Mexico GP is underway
The Mexico GP is underway, and the drivers have made the long run down to Turn 1, and it is Lewis Hamilton who grabbed the lead in the opening sector
20:00
Formation Lap
The drivers are away from the grid for their Formation Lap...
19:57
Tyre Choices for the Mexico GP
Here are the tyre choices for today’s start:
- Lewis Hamilton - Soft (Used)
- George Russell - Soft (Used)
- Charles Leclerc - Soft
- Kimi Antonelli - Soft
- Max Verstappen - Medium
- Lando Norris - Medium
- Isack Hadjar - Soft (Used)
- Arvid Lindblad - Soft
- Pierre Gasly - Soft
- Nico Hulkenberg - Medium
- Franco Colapinto - Medium
- Oscar Piastri - Soft
- Gabriel Bortoleto - Medium
- Ollie Bearman -Soft
- Carlos Sainz - Soft
- Alex Albon - Soft
- Fernando Alonso - Soft
- Ryo Hirakawa - Medium
- Lance Stroll - Soft
- Sergio Perez - Soft
- Valtteri Bottas - Soft
- Liam Lawson - Medium (Pits)
19:51
10 Minutes to go
There are ten minutes to go ahead of lights out, and Lewis Hamilton is ready to lead the field away from pole position...
19:45
15 Minutes to go
There are 15 minutes left until the start of the Mexico Grand Prix, and the stewards have warned the drivers and teams ahead of any nonsense at the start of the race...
F1 stewards issue driving standards clarification ahead of Mexico GP
2025 Mexico GP start
© XPB Images
19:40
Starting grid for the 2026 Mexico GPO
A reminder of how the grid looks for the 2026 Mexico Grand Prix:
F1 2026 Mexico Grand Prix: Updated starting grid after Liam Lawson thrown out of qualifying
Lewis Hamilton will lead the field in Mexico City
19:35
How Kimi Antonelli can win the 2026 F1 title
Here is how Kimi Antonelli can secure the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship today in the Mexico Grand Prix:
How Kimi Antonelli can become F1 champion at Mexico GP today - and how Lewis Hamilton can delay coronation
Kimi Antonelli can secure the F1 world title in Mexico
19:30
30 Minutes to go
We are half an hour away from lights out for the Mexico Grand Prix…
19:20
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