The Mexico City Grand Prix 2026 starts at 2:00 PM local time on Sunday November 1. Race day also lands on the first day of Día de Muertos, the Day of the Dead. So this guide covers start times for every country and the full weekend schedule.
WHAT TIME IS THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX
The Mexico City Grand Prix starts at 2:00 PM local time on Sunday November 1. That’s 8:00 PM in the UK and 3:00 PM in New York.
UK clocks already changed last Sunday, so London stays on GMT all weekend. US clocks go back at 2:00 AM on race morning. So American fans see the start land one hour earlier on their clocks than last week’s race.
The race runs 71 laps and usually takes 90 minutes to two hours. Mexico City no longer changes its clocks, so it stays six hours behind UTC all year.
WHEN IS THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX 2026
The Mexico City Grand Prix 2026 runs from Friday October 30 to Sunday November 1. It’s Round 19 of 23 and the second stop of the Americas triple-header. Austin came first, and São Paulo follows on November 8.
This is a traditional weekend, so there’s no sprint race. For the previous round, see our Austin Grand Prix 2026 race guide.
WHERE IS THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX
The Mexico City Grand Prix takes place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in eastern Mexico City. The circuit sits inside the Magdalena Mixiuhca sports park. It stands about 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level, which makes it the highest track on the F1 calendar.
The circuit honors Pedro and Ricardo Rodríguez, two Mexican racing brothers. Mexico has hosted Formula 1 on and off since 1963.
MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX 2026 RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The weekend follows the standard three-day format. All times below are local Mexico City time (CST) and UK time (GMT). US clocks stay on daylight time for Friday and Saturday, then change on Sunday morning.
Build-up coverage typically starts 60 to 90 minutes before each session. Qualifying starts at 3:00 PM Saturday, which is 5:00 PM in New York and 2:00 AM.
BEST COUNTRIES TO WATCH THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX LIVE
The race starts at 20:00 UTC, so it lands very differently around the world. Here is how it works out for each region, from easiest to hardest.
Easiest Time Zones (12 PM To 5 PM)
The Americas get the friendliest slot. The race starts at 12:00 PM in Los Angeles and 2:00 PM in Mexico City. New York and Toronto start at 3:00 PM, and São Paulo at 5:00 PM.
Good Evening Viewing (8 PM To 10 PM)
Europe and Africa land in prime time. The UK and Ireland watch at 8:00 PM, and Portugal matches them. Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and Nigeria start at 9:00 PM. South Africa follows at 10:00 PM.
Late Night (Midnight To 2 AM)
Dubai starts at midnight. India at 1:30 AM, all early Monday morning. Many fans watch live anyway. Others catch the replay or highlights after waking up.
Overnight And Early Morning (4 AM To 9 AM)
Singapore, Malaysia, and Perth start at 4:00 AM Monday, with Japan at 5:00 AM. Brisbane watches at 6:00 AM, and Sydney and Melbourne at 7:00 AM. New Zealand gets a 9:00 AM start. So Australian fans can watch live before work.
Qualifying stretches this gap further. It runs at 9:00 PM Saturday in the UK, 2:00 AM and 5:00 AM Sunday in Singapore.
WHAT CHANNEL IS THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX ON
Live coverage varies by region, and build-up typically starts 60 to 90 minutes before each session.
UK Viewers
Sky Sports F1 carries every session live. Channel 4 airs free highlights after the race.
US Viewers
Apple TV carries every session live. F1 TV Premium comes included with the subscription.
Canada
TSN broadcasts in English and RDS in French.
Australia
Fox Sports and Kayo Sports carry live coverage. Sydney fans watch at 7:00 AM Monday.
India
FanCode carries coverage, with F1 TV available where it’s offered.
Everywhere Else
F1 TV Pro covers most other regions Dubai, and Singapore, alongside local broadcasters. The official F1 race hub lists the confirmed timetable for every session.
HOW MANY LAPS IS THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX
The Mexico City Grand Prix runs 71 laps of the 4.304 km circuit, covering 305.354 km. The track runs clockwise through 17 corners. Valtteri Bottas holds the lap record, a 1:17.774 from 2021.
WHAT IS THE AUTÓDROMO HERMANOS RODRÍGUEZ LIKE
The altitude defines everything at Mexico City. The air is roughly a quarter thinner than at sea level. So cars make far less downforce, even with their biggest wings fitted. Engines and brakes also struggle for cooling, which pushes teams toward larger cooling openings.
The lap opens with one of the longest pit straights on the calendar, about 1.2 km, into a heavy braking zone at Turn 1. The 2026 cars have no DRS flap. So Overtake Mode matters on that straight.
Then the track enters the Foro Sol, a baseball stadium. Cars wind through its infield between packed grandstands. It’s one of the loudest stretches in F1. Our F1 corner types guide explains the slow, twisting corners drivers face there.
KEY STORYLINES FOR THE 2026 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX
Sergio Pérez races at home for Cadillac, the newest team on the grid. It’s his first Mexican home race since 2024. He sat out 2025 before landing the Cadillac seat. So expect a loud welcome from the grandstands.
Kimi Antonelli leads the championship, with Mercedes teammate George Russell chasing. Before Austin, Antonelli held a 102 point lead with six races left. Our Ferrari vs Mercedes 2026 analysis tracks how the gap between the two teams has moved.
Max Verstappen won here three years running from 2021 to 2023. He also arrives off wins in Sepang and Singapore. Meanwhile, Lando Norris won this race for McLaren last year. Race day also falls on the first day of Día de Muertos, so the city celebrates alongside the Grand Prix.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What time is the Mexico City Grand Prix?
The race starts at 2:00 PM local time on Sunday November 1. That’s 8:00 PM GMT in the UK and 3:00 PM EST in New York.
When is the Mexico City Grand Prix 2026?
The Mexico City Grand Prix 2026 runs from Friday October 30 to Sunday November 1, with the race on Sunday.
What time is F1 qualifying this weekend?
Qualifying runs Saturday October 31 at 3:00 PM local time. That’s 9:00 PM in the UK3.
Where is the Mexico City Grand Prix?
The race takes place at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in eastern Mexico City.
How many laps is the Mexico City Grand Prix?
The race runs 71 laps of the 4.304 km circuit, covering 305.354 km.
What channel is the Mexico City Grand Prix on?
Sky Sports F1 carries it live in the UK. Apple TV covers the United States, and TSN and RDS cover Canada. F1 TV Pro covers most other regions.
Is there a sprint race at the Mexico City Grand Prix?
No. The weekend uses the traditional format with three practice sessions, qualifying on Saturday, and the race on Sunday.
Which countries can watch the Mexico City Grand Prix at a good time?
The Americas, the UK, and most of Europe get afternoon or evening starts. Asia faces an overnight start.
How high is the Mexico City circuit?
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez sits about 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level. That’s the highest track on the F1 calendar.
Who won the Mexico City Grand Prix 2025?
Lando Norris won the 2025 race for McLaren.
