The middle of three races in the middle of three straight tripleheaders to conclude the 2026 Formula 1 season is Sunday's Mexico City Grand Prix, more commonly referred to as the Mexican Grand Prix since there's still only one race in the country, at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
It would take a complete disaster for Sunday's 71-lap race around the 17-turn, 2.674-mile (4.303-kilometer) road course in Mexico City, Mexico to conclude with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli having not yet been crowned world champion, as he owns a 123-point lead over teammate George Russell with just 125 points still up for grabs.
Antonelli has earned eight Grand Prix wins this year from the front row, including six from pole. But he is also the only driver to win a Grand Prix or a sprint race from lower than the front row at any point this season, winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza from 19th on the grid in the race that truly felt like he had "arrived" as the world title favorite on home soil.
In Mexico, it has historically been tough to win from anywhere other than the front. None of the 10 races contested since the track returned to the schedule in 2015 have been won from lower than third on the grid, although P3 has won three of those races, which is no surprise considering the advantage the driver in third often times has at the start due to the course's long front straigtaway.
How crucial will qualifying be this weekend in Mexico's first race under the new regulations?
Follow along with our live qualifying updates from Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Mexico City Grand Prix F1 qualifying: Eliminated in Q1
17 - Alex Albon, Williams
18 - Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
19 - Ryo Hirakawa, Haas
20 - Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
21 - Sergio Perez, Cadillac
22 - Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac
Mexico City Grand Prix F1 qualifying: Eliminated in Q2
Mexico City Grand Prix F1 qualifying: Q3 results
Full Mexico City Grand Prix starting lineup
The Mexico City Grand Prix is set to be shown live on Apple TV from Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez beginning at 2:55 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 1.
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