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Follow live F1 updates from the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with Antonelli on verge of title
Formula 1 returns to Mexico City this weekend for the Mexican Grand Prix - with Kimi Antonelli set to seal the world championship.
The 20-year-old Italian holds a 123-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell and a 124-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton after his victory in Austin last time out. If Antonelli finishes ninth or higher in Mexico, he will be crowned world champion and, even if he doesn’t, Russell or Hamilton need to win the grand prix to extend the title race to Brazil.
Antonelli cruised to victory from pole in Texas, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third. Hamilton missed out on a podium, while an early penalty resulted in Russell finishing a lowly eighth.
Lando Norris won last year’s race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, on his way to his maiden world title. After missing out last year, Sergio Perez returns to his home race off the back of signing a new contract with Cadillac this week.
Follow live coverage of the Mexican Grand Prix with The Independent.
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 365 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 242 points
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 241 points
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 236 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 233 points
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 211 points
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 144 points
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 105 points
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 77 points
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 42 points
Kieran Jackson1 November 2026 17:12
Formula 1 returns to Mexico City this weekend for the Mexican Grand Prix - with Kimi Antonelli set to seal the world championship.
The 20-year-old Italian holds a 123-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell and a 124-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton after his victory in Austin last time out. If Antonelli finishes ninth or higher in Mexico, he will be crowned world champion and, even if he doesn’t, Russell or Hamilton need to win the grand prix to extend the title race to Brazil.
Antonelli cruised to victory from pole in Texas, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third. Hamilton missed out on a podium, while an early penalty resulted in Russell finishing a lowly eighth.
Lando Norris won last year’s race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, on his way to his maiden world title. After missing out last year, Sergio Perez returns to his home race off the back of signing a new contract with Cadillac this week.
Kieran Jackson1 November 2026 17:10
1. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)*
6. Lando Norris (McLaren)
7. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
8. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)*
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
11. Nico Hulkenberg
12. Franco Colapinto
13. Oscar Piastri
14. Gabriel Bortoleto
15. Ollie Bearman
16. Carlos Sainz
17. Alex Albon
18. Fernando Alonso
19. Ryo Hirakawa
20. Lance Stroll
21. Sergio Perez
22. Valtteri Bottas
*Verstappen and Lawson have a one-place grid drop after a clash in practice
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 23:59
1. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)*
6. Lando Norris (McLaren)
7. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
8. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
9. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
*Verstappen has a one-place grid drop after a clash with Liam Lawson in practice
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 22:22
“Thank you so much, that’s been such a long time coming! Mega job guys, so greatful for the hard work you’ve put in!”
That’s his first pole since Hungary in July 2023!
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 22:15
It was Russell but then it was Lewis Hamilton - who gets his first Ferrari pole by 0.009 seconds!
Leclerc has to settle for third, with Verstappen and Antonelli fourth and fifth respectively.
6-10: Norris, Hadjar, Lawson, Lindblad, Gasly
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 22:09
Really strong from Leclerc.
He’s top of the standings after the first laps, ahead of 0.045 secs to Max Verstappen.
3-10: Norris, Hamilton, Russell, Gasly, Antonelli, Lawson, Lindblad, Hadjar
Antonelli with work to do!
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 22:03
Here we go then - who’s going to be on pole in Mexico City?
10 drivers involved: Antonelli, Russell, Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris, Verstappen, Hadjar, Lindblad, Lawson, Gasly
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 21:56
Follow live F1 updates from the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with Antonelli on verge of title
Formula 1 returns to Mexico City this weekend for the Mexican Grand Prix - with Kimi Antonelli set to seal the world championship.
The 20-year-old Italian holds a 123-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell and a 124-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton after his victory in Austin last time out. If Antonelli finishes ninth or higher in Mexico, he will be crowned world champion and, even if he doesn’t, Russell or Hamilton need to win the grand prix to extend the title race to Brazil.
Antonelli cruised to victory from pole in Texas, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third. Hamilton missed out on a podium, while an early penalty resulted in Russell finishing a lowly eighth.
Lando Norris won last year’s race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, on his way to his maiden world title. After missing out last year, Sergio Perez returns to his home race off the back of signing a new contract with Cadillac this week.
Follow live coverage of the Mexican Grand Prix with The Independent.
Lewis Hamilton made an error on his lap and he’s now back in the garage - but down in P15.
Current bottom-six (11-16): Bortoleto, Bearman, Colapinto, Norris, Hamilton, Sainz
Oscar Piastri also on the limit in 10th... 5:00 to go in Q2.
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 21:43
Time for Q2: 15 minutes where, again, we’ll lose the slowest six drivers from the rest of qualifying.
Who will make the top-10 shootout?
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 21:34
17. Alex Albon
18. Fernando Alonso
19. Ryo Hirakawa
20. Lance Stroll
21. Sergio Perez
22. Valtteri Bottas
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 21:27
Alex Albon in P17 loses out to his Williams teammate Carlos Sainz!
Out in Q1 (17-22): Albon, Alonso, Hirakawa, Stroll, Perez, Bottas
Hadjar, incidentally, ended up to P2 in the end! Lewis Hamilton was fastest....
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 21:26
The Red Bull really struggling in the final sector - he’s P14 at the moment.
Current bottom-six (17-22): Albon, Alonso, Hirakawa, Stroll, Perez, Bottas
4:00 to go in Q1 - could change yet...
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 21:22
Alonso slams the wheel in frustration when told to box - he doesn’t think there’s any issue!
Anyhow, his car has been cleared: Q1 will resume in 2 minutes.
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 21:12
We have 11:07 left because Alonso has stopped the car on the circuit, right by the baseball section.
Oh dear. The issues for Aston are never-ending...
A shake of the head from Adrian Newey on the pit-wall.
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 21:07
Oh dear.
Alonso has stopped his Aston Martin car just by turn 13 after being told to stop.
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 21:07
Here we go with the first phase of qualifying - 18 minutes where we’ll lose the slowest six cars from the rest of the session.
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 21:01
A reminder that Verstappen and Lawson both have a one-place grid penalty for tomorrow after their unnecessary clash in practice yesterday.
We’ll see where they end up...
Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas, meanwhile, has a 50-place drop. So.... that’ll be the back of the grid, obviously.
Follow live F1 updates from the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez with Antonelli on verge of title
Formula 1 returns to Mexico City this weekend for the Mexican Grand Prix - with Kimi Antonelli set to seal the world championship.
The 20-year-old Italian holds a 123-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell and a 124-point advantage over Lewis Hamilton after his victory in Austin last time out. If Antonelli finishes ninth or higher in Mexico, he will be crowned world champion and, even if he doesn’t, Russell or Hamilton need to win the grand prix to extend the title race to Brazil.
Antonelli cruised to victory from pole in Texas, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third. Hamilton missed out on a podium, while an early penalty resulted in Russell finishing a lowly eighth.
Lando Norris won last year’s race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, on his way to his maiden world title. After missing out last year, Sergio Perez returns to his home race off the back of signing a new contract with Cadillac this week.
Follow live coverage of the Mexican Grand Prix with The Independent.
As shown by those times in final practice, it feels relatively open!
Kimi Antonelli has to be the favourite but Ferrari were quick, as were McLaren with a late surge.
And you definitely can’t write off Max Verstappen!
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 20:50
1. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1:17.600
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.001
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.117
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.195
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.351
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.469
7. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.507
8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +0.509
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +0.513
10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +0.537
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 20:45
1. Mercedes - 607 points
2. Ferrari - 474 points
3. Red Bull - 355 points
4. McLaren - 355 points
5. Racing Bulls - 102 points
6. Alpine - 69 points
7. Haas - 30 points
8. Audi - 23 points
9. Williams - 12 points
10. Aston Martin - 7 points
11. Cadillac - 0 points
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 20:15
Rewinding the clock can prove to be a humbling experience. The ambiguity and anticipation of pre-season guessing games – the inevitable pattern of predictions leading up to day one – can either prove to be a massive feather in the cap come the end of the season (cc. 2025 title prediction) or an article/video to write off.
Yet as this year’s Formula 1 season draws to a close, it is most certainly the latter.
All seven of Sky Sports’ experts? Wrong. BBC pundits? Wrong. Yours truly? Wrong. And not just wrong: barely a soul mentioned Kimi Antonelli above George Russell in the 2026 F1 championship stakes. Some bookies, in and around February testing, had the Italian as low as seventh-favourite.
Full piece below:
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 19:45
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 365 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 242 points
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 241 points
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 236 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 233 points
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 211 points
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 144 points
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - 105 points
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 77 points
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 42 points
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 19:30
1. Lando Norris
2. Kimi Antonelli
3. Charles Leclerc
4. Oscar Piastri
5. Max Verstappen
6. Lewis Hamilton
7. George Russell
8. Isack Hadjar
9. Liam Lawson
10. Arvid Lindblad
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 18:45
Right at the end, Norris nips Antonelli at the top - by 0.001 seconds!
3-10: Leclerc, Piastri, Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell, Hadjar, Lawson, Lindblad
Onto qualifying we go! Four different teams in the top-five bodes well!
Kieran Jackson31 October 2026 18:36
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