News Summary
- Yes, Formula 1 qualifying takes place today, Saturday, October 31, at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City.
- Qualifying starts at 9:00pm GMT in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with final practice scheduled for 5:30pm GMT.
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli enters the weekend with an opportunity to secure his first Drivers’ Championship, while George Russell and Lewis Hamilton remain mathematically in contention.
Formula 1 qualifying for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix takes place today, Saturday, October 31, at 9:00pm GMT for viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The session will determine the starting grid for Sunday’s 71-lap race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where Andrea Kimi Antonelli has the opportunity to become World Champion.
Before qualifying, teams have one final hour of practice, beginning at 5:30pm GMT. The Mexican Grand Prix uses Formula 1’s conventional weekend format, with three practice sessions followed by qualifying and Sunday’s race.
What time is F1 qualifying today in the UK?
| Session | UK time (GMT) | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| FP3 — Saturday | 5:30pm | 11:30am |
| Qualifying — Saturday | 9:00pm | 3:00pm |
| Grand Prix — Sunday | 8:00pm | 2:00pm |
The UK returned to Greenwich Mean Time on October 25, making Mexico City six hours behind Britain.
Qualifying is scheduled to run for approximately one hour, although interruptions or red flags can affect the finish time.
How can viewers watch Mexico F1 qualifying in the UK?
Sky Sports F1 is broadcasting the Mexican Grand Prix weekend live in the United Kingdom.
According to Sky’s published schedule, qualifying build-up begins at 8:00pm GMT, followed by the session at 9:00pm GMT.
Subscribers can also use the Sky Sports app, while NOW offers streaming access through its sports passes.
Sky Sports has scheduled its qualifying notebook coverage for 11:00pm.
What happens during F1 qualifying?
Qualifying takes place over three segments: Q1, Q2 and Q3.
The slowest drivers are eliminated after Q1 and Q2, while the remaining ten compete for pole position in Q3.
Starting position can be important at Mexico City because of the long run to Turn 1 and the difficulty of managing tyres and cooling in the circuit’s thin air.
The track sits approximately 2,240 metres above sea level.
The technical impact of Mexico’s altitude on the 2026 hybrid engines is an important consideration for teams preparing their cars.
Can Antonelli win the title at the Mexican GP?
Antonelli arrived in Mexico with 365 points, ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell on 242 and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton on 241.
He needs to finish ninth or better on Sunday to secure the championship regardless of his rivals’ results.
The Italian missed Thursday’s media activities because of a viral illness, with Mercedes expecting him to return for Friday’s sessions.
The championship calculations for a points-free weekend explain how Antonelli could still be crowned champion without scoring if neither Russell nor Hamilton wins.
What time is the Mexican Grand Prix race on Sunday?
The race begins at 8:00pm GMT on Sunday, November 1, equivalent to 2:00pm in Mexico City.
It is scheduled for 71 laps of the 4.304km circuit.
The full Mexican Grand Prix schedule also includes the Friday session times.
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.
