The Mexico City Grand Prix 2026 schedule starts Friday practice at 2:30 p.m. ET and 6 p.m. ET, with U.S. coverage on Apple TV. Yahoo Sports published its preview on October 29 ahead of the October 30–November 1 weekend at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli arrives with an opportunity to secure the drivers’ championship.
Updated October 30, 2026. All times below reflect the published timetable and remain subject to change. Crucially, U.S. clocks change before Sunday’s race, so the Mexico-to-U.S. time difference changes during the weekend.
What is the full 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix schedule?
Friday brings two one-hour practice sessions. Then Saturday combines final practice with qualifying, before Sunday’s 71-lap Grand Prix.
The table gives Mexico City Grand Prix U.S. start times alongside the circuit’s local times. Friday and Saturday use EDT and PDT; Sunday uses EST and PST.
| Session | Date | Mexico City local time | U.S. Eastern | U.S. Pacific |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Friday, October 30 | 12:30–13:30 | 2:30–3:30 p.m. EDT | 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. PDT |
| Practice 2 | Friday, October 30 | 16:00–17:00 | 6–7 p.m. EDT | 3–4 p.m. PDT |
| Practice 3 | Saturday, October 31 | 11:30 start | 1:30 p.m. EDT | 10:30 a.m. PDT |
| Qualifying | Saturday, October 31 | 15:00 start | 5 p.m. EDT | 2 p.m. PDT |
| Grand Prix | Sunday, November 1 | 14:00 start | 3 p.m. EST | Noon PST |
Check the official Formula 1 weekend timetable before each session. In particular, distinguish the session start from the beginning of a broadcaster’s programme.
What time is Mexico City Grand Prix practice on Friday?
Practice 1 begins at 12:30 local time on October 30. That means 2:30 p.m. Eastern or 11:30 a.m. Pacific for U.S. viewers.
Later, Practice 2 starts at 16:00 local time: 6 p.m. Eastern or 3 p.m. Pacific. Both sessions last 60 minutes, according to the published schedule.
For drivers and engineers, Friday offers two separate windows to assess the car before Saturday’s qualifying preparation. For fans, however, practice lap times are context rather than a final ranking: fuel loads, tyres and run plans can differ.
If you are searching for Mexico City GP practice times 2026 during the working day, those two U.S. starts are the essential reminders. Also, keep championship calculations separate from Friday’s classification: practice results do not settle Antonelli’s title opportunity.
Where can I watch the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix in the U.S.?
Apple TV is listed as the U.S. F1 platform for this weekend. Therefore, check its event listing for each session rather than assuming a previous season’s channel arrangement still applies.
The official F1 session-times and viewing guide provides the reference for coverage information. Outside the U.S., consult the broadcaster listing for your territory.
The F1 Mexico City GP TV schedule needs particular care on Sunday. U.S. daylight saving time ends on November 1, while Mexico City stays on its local clock.
Consequently, Sunday’s 14:00 local race becomes 3 p.m. Eastern, not 4 p.m. Eastern. Avoid reusing Saturday’s time offset.
[triprank_promo_banner]
What time is Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying?
Qualifying starts Saturday, October 31, at 15:00 local time. That converts to 5 p.m. EDT and 2 p.m. PDT.
Before that, Practice 3 starts at 11:30 local time. U.S. viewers can watch from 1:30 p.m. Eastern or 10:30 a.m. Pacific.
Sunday’s race starts at 14:00 local time on November 1. The published race distance is 305.354 km across 71 laps of the 4.304 km circuit.
If you are attending rather than watching remotely, use our Mexico City Grand Prix ticket and weekend guide for the separate admission-planning questions. This preview focuses on session times and the championship picture.
Can Kimi Antonelli clinch the F1 title in Mexico?
Yes. After the United States Grand Prix, Antonelli led George Russell by 123 points and Lewis Hamilton by 124. With 125 points available across the final five rounds, Mexico presents a championship-clinching opportunity.
According to Formula 1’s official Antonelli title permutations, finishing ninth or higher would secure the championship. If he scores no points, he can still clinch if neither Russell nor Hamilton wins.
| Mexico outcome | Championship implication |
|---|---|
| Antonelli finishes ninth or higher | Antonelli secures the title under F1’s published permutations. |
| Antonelli scores no points; neither Russell nor Hamilton wins | Antonelli still secures the title. |
| Antonelli scores no points; Russell or Hamilton wins | The title remains undecided. |
However, do not treat the championship as already decided. The preview describes possible outcomes, not a confirmed result.
For context on the preceding round, see our 2026 United States Grand Prix schedule guide. Mexico’s points calculations begin from the standings after that event.
How can TripRank help with your own drives?
Separately from watching F1, TripRank is an iOS driving and performance telemetry companion. It records drives with GPS route capture and provides a per-trip Smoothness Score.
Recording works offline and continues in the background. Meanwhile, Pro unlocks aggregate stats charts and Apple Watch heart-rate analytics.
Keep performance testing to closed circuits or authorised private venues; drive within road limits when travelling to events.
Frequently asked questions
What time is Friday practice in the U.S.?
On October 30, Practice 1 starts at 2:30 p.m. EDT and 11:30 a.m. PDT. Practice 2 starts at 6 p.m. EDT and 3 p.m. PDT.
What time does the Mexico City Grand Prix start?
The race starts Sunday, November 1, at 14:00 Mexico City time, 3 p.m. EST and noon PST. Session times remain subject to change.
Where can I watch the race in the U.S.?
Apple TV is listed as the U.S. F1 platform for the weekend. Check its event listing for session coverage and programme start times.
What does Antonelli need to do to win the championship?
F1 says ninth place or higher in Mexico would secure Antonelli the title. If he scores no points, he can still clinch if neither George Russell nor Lewis Hamilton wins.
Bottom line
Set Friday reminders for 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern. Then account for the clock change before Sunday’s 3 p.m. EST race and watch Antonelli’s finishing position alongside his rivals. For GPS recording of your own drives, explore TripRank for iPhone on the App Store.
Read next
