Formula 1’s travelling circus has landed in Mexico City, and the race weekend that could crown a new world champion is days away. More than 50 tonnes of equipment have reached the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the high-altitude circuit that hosts the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Seven Boeing 747 cargo aircraft carried the freight.
Key Facts
- What arrived: More than 50 tonnes of Formula 1 equipment has reached Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the circuit that hosts the race.
- Race time: Sunday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time (2 p.m. Mexico City time), after US clocks go back.
- Title stakes: Kimi Antonelli leads George Russell by 123 points and can clinch the drivers’ title with a ninth-place finish or better.
- Homecoming: Sergio Pérez, Mexico’s best-known driver, returns to his home race with Cadillac after missing the 2025 season.
A Title Could Be Decided in Mexico
Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes driver, won the United States Grand Prix in Austin and leads his teammate George Russell by 123 points. Mexico offers no sprint race, so no more than 25 points are available this weekend.
That arithmetic means Antonelli can clinch the drivers’ championship in Mexico by finishing ninth or higher. A win for Russell would shrink the gap, but not by enough to stop Antonelli if he scores.
Pérez Comes Home
Sergio Pérez, a Mexican driver who missed the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, returns with Cadillac, General Motors’ new Formula 1 team. His comeback is the dominant local story for fans in Mexico City.
Franco Colapinto, the Argentine driver for the Alpine team, arrives after retiring in Azerbaijan and Singapore and finishing 13th in Malaysia.
Weekend Schedule in Eastern Time
Mexico City runs six hours behind UTC all year. Until US clocks go back on Sunday morning, Eastern Time is two hours ahead of Mexico City.
Free Practice 1 is Friday, Oct. 30 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern (12:30 p.m. local), and Free Practice 2 follows at 6 p.m. (4 p.m. local). Free Practice 3 is Saturday, Oct. 31 at 1:30 p.m. Eastern (11:30 a.m. local), and qualifying starts at 5 p.m. (3 p.m. local).
The race starts Sunday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. Eastern (2 p.m. local), once the US time change has taken effect. It is the 19th round of the season, run over 71 laps of the 4.304-kilometre track, a little over 305 kilometres.
What It Means for US Readers
For fans in the United States, the race falls on a Sunday afternoon, and it comes just a week after the Austin round. The title chase gives American viewers a reason to tune in even if they follow no other motorsport.
Fans who watched Antonelli win in Austin can see the same title chase continue one race later, in the same North American time zones. Practice and qualifying fall in the US afternoon, so most sessions are watchable live.
What Is Not Known
The current contract keeps the race in Mexico City through 2028, and no extension has been announced. No attendance or economic-impact figure has been published for this weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the Mexico City Grand Prix for US viewers?
The race starts Sunday, Nov. 1 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. First practice is Friday, Oct. 30 at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Can Kimi Antonelli win the title in Mexico City?
Yes. He leads Mercedes teammate George Russell by 123 points and can clinch with a ninth-place finish or better.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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