Official 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

Welcome to Mexico City, the middle round of another triple header. Antonelli should win the title here and become the youngest WDC in history.

Shame Russell couldn’t match him through the season, goodness knows where he’ll go from here. Nico Rosberg might be a good example for him of how to come back against a dominant teammate, but Rosberg never took a beating like this. I imagine he’ll be packing his bags at the end of this contract.

Austin was a bore in the end (full transparency I fell asleep) so let’s hope for better here. The big thing with Mexico is altitude, so the power units might be shuffled up a bit.

Ferrari seemed to get everything right in Austin apart from Q3, and were quick in the race. Leclerc has a good chance with the Austin upgrades and generally goes well here.

Here’s to a great race.

Date(s): Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026

UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing highlights of competitive sessions.





2025 Highlights: Norris win, best ever corner cut from Hamilton.

https://youtu.be/hTqxfkWRimk?si=Zxhgvy0ZmwMyDAG9

Tyres:

Soft compounds



2025 Result:

[BrettMRC]

Thanks as always Mr Poke!

I have feeling we will see Norris stick it on pole and win, based on not a lot...

More realistic?

1st: Max
2nd: Kimi
3rd: George

It's possible the Ferrari turbo philiosphy will hurt them here at altitude.

[595Heaven]

Thanks as always PiaP!

I also had a snooze towards the end of the last one…

I’m sure (and happy) that Kimi will win the WDC, but I’m backing Max for the win. They do need to fix the slow getaway issues though.

[Sandpit Steve]

Same terrible time zone as last weekend, but will definitely be staying up until 2am to see Kimi formally confirmed as 2026 World Drivers’ Champion!

(Either George needs to win with Kimi out of the points, or Lewis needs to win with Kimi no higher than 9th).

[Piginapoke]

595Heaven said:

Thanks as always PiaP!

I also had a snooze towards the end of the last one

I m sure (and happy) that Kimi will win the WDC, but I m backing Max for the win. They do need to fix the slow getaway issues though.

Yes I was well rested after Austin

The fix for Red Bull's poor starts must be a a major piece of work or it would have done it already- maybe one for the off season?

Edited by Piginapoke on Tuesday 27th October 08:34

[PRO5T]

BrettMRC said:

Thanks as always Mr Poke!

It's possible the Ferrari turbo philiosphy will hurt them here at altitude.

I was thinking the same...

However, with the high altitude is it possible we'll see a return to yo-yo racing for some actual fun from what is traditionally a bit of a dull track? Or have the AI overlords figured that out and mitigated against it?

[suffolk009]

1. Kimi
2. Lewis


8. George

[Still Mulling]

Thanks, PiaP!

[mrdelazouch]

I'm going with Antonelli, but I expect George to be strong as well. He lost the WDC, so now the pressure should be gone and hopefully he will find some pace. I don't think Ferraris will be as strong as they were in Austin.

1. Antonelli
2. Verstappen
3. Russell

[TheDeuce]

I've gone Kimi, on the basis I think he'll win. Zero pressure on him now so might as well finish in style

[TikTak]

Also went with Antonelli, wins the WDC with a flourish.

The Merc PU too much for the big straight here against the other teams.

[kambites]

My gut feeling is Verstappen. I think the Redbull is at least as fast as the Mercedes on the straights now and Antonelli has more of a vested interest in making sure he just finishes the race. It all depends whether Redbull suffer from this mysterious drop off in performance they seem prone to as the race progresses, though.

Either way if it's a clean race, I suspect Verstappen and Antonelli will be out in front, with the Ferraris (which will struggle with the straights), Russell, and probably Norris in some order in a group behind.

[Gazzab]

I think Antonelli will be motivated and relaxed. Think he’ll be unstoppable. Followed by Max and maybe Hamilton.

[Hustle_]

Verstappen's gonna win. Look out for overperforming Audis (big turbos and long gear ratios!)

Its hard to place Ferrari whose engine and drag disadvantages should be penalised less but whose tyre management should be less rewarded. Troubling Mercedes and Mclaren but not Verstappen IMO.

Antonelli turn one incident with Russell or Hamilton.

[thegreenhell]

Both Mercedes to take each other out, letting Hamilton lead home a Ferrari 1-2, leading to the greatest championship comeback in history.

[Petrus1983]

Thanks PiaP.

Hoping to see Kimi become WDC - and take the win for good measure.

[Piginapoke]

Hustle_ said:

Verstappen's gonna win. Look out for overperforming Audis (big turbos and long gear ratios!)

That is a good shout re the Audis!

[SmoothCriminal]

Kimi win

Hamilton to be comfortably beaten by Charles again.

Max to cry baby on the radio again unless Redbull deliver him a rocket ship

[geeks]

SmoothCriminal said:

Max to cry baby on the radio again unless Redbull deliver him a rocket ship

Place your bets on which lap he complains about gear shifts regardless of how well he is doing in the race.

I am going with lap 21

[Hustle_]

Piginapoke said:

Hustle_ said:

Verstappen's gonna win. Look out for overperforming Audis (big turbos and long gear ratios!)

That is a good shout re the Audis!

I wonder if all the Mercedes-powered teams especially the works team might look a bit off-colour as they sometimes do when cooling is marginal. Mercedes have probably on average been slightly weak here. I think that's what might bring Ferrari into the mix.