News Summary
- Mexican Grand Prix qualifying takes place on Sunday, November 1, in India, Australia and New Zealand, because of the time difference with Mexico City.
- The session starts at 2:30am IST in India, 8:00am AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne, and 10:00am NZDT in Auckland.
- Final practice also falls on Sunday in these markets, while the race takes place on Monday morning in India and Oceania.
Formula 1 qualifying for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix takes place on Sunday morning, November 1, for viewers in Australia and New Zealand, while Indian fans face a 2:30am IST start. The session begins at 8:00am in Sydney and Melbourne and 10:00am in Auckland and Wellington, despite being scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Mexico City.
The qualifying session determines the starting grid for the Mexican Grand Prix, which takes place on Sunday, November 1, locally and on Monday, November 2, in India, Australia and New Zealand.
What time is Mexico F1 qualifying in India?
Qualifying starts at 2:30am IST on Sunday, November 1.
Final practice begins earlier, at 11:00pm IST on Saturday, October 31.
Indian viewers therefore have the unusual schedule of watching FP3 late on Saturday night and qualifying after midnight.
The race itself starts at 1:30am IST on Monday, November 2.
The complete India schedule for the Mexican Grand Prix covers the entire weekend.
What time is Mexico F1 qualifying in Australia and New Zealand?
| City | FP3 | Qualifying |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney / Melbourne | Sunday, 4:30am AEDT | Sunday, 8:00am AEDT |
| Brisbane | Sunday, 3:30am AEST | Sunday, 7:00am AEST |
| Adelaide | Sunday, 4:00am ACDT | Sunday, 7:30am ACDT |
| Perth | Sunday, 1:30am AWST | Sunday, 5:00am AWST |
| Auckland / Wellington | Sunday, 6:30am NZDT | Sunday, 10:00am NZDT |
The event takes place at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, six hours behind GMT.
Australian and New Zealand time-zone differences therefore move the session into Sunday.
When is the Mexican Grand Prix race in Australia and New Zealand?
The 71-lap race takes place on Monday, November 2, in both countries.
| City | Monday race start |
|---|---|
| Sydney / Melbourne | 7:00am AEDT |
| Brisbane | 6:00am AEST |
| Adelaide | 6:30am ACDT |
| Perth | 4:00am AWST |
| Auckland / Wellington | 9:00am NZDT |
The Australian and New Zealand Mexican GP guide provides additional information about the local schedule.
What is at stake in Mexico qualifying?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli arrived in Mexico with 365 championship points, leading George Russell by 123 and Lewis Hamilton by 124.
The Italian can become World Champion on Sunday in Mexico, with the result becoming known on Monday morning in India, Australia and New Zealand.
He needs ninth place or better to secure the title regardless of his rivals’ results.
GRANDE PRÊMIO has also detailed the title scenarios if Antonelli fails to score.
Qualifying will establish the starting positions for the drivers still involved in the championship fight.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
