{"id":4784,"date":"2026-11-01T11:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T14:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=4784"},"modified":"2026-11-01T11:07:06","modified_gmt":"2026-11-01T14:07:06","slug":"mexico-f1-grid-changes-again-lawson-sent-to-back-as-hamilton-leads-and-antonelli-eyes-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/mexico-f1-grid-changes-again-lawson-sent-to-back-as-hamilton-leads-and-antonelli-eyes-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexico F1 grid changes again: Lawson sent to back as Hamilton leads and Antonelli eyes title"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lewis Hamilton starts the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix from pole position<\/strong>, ahead of George Russell and Charles Leclerc, after securing his first Grand Prix pole for Ferrari.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Liam Lawson has been disqualified from qualifying following an MGU-K technical infringement<\/strong>, dropping from ninth on the provisional grid to 22nd.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pierre Gasly moves to ninth, Nico H\u00fclkenberg to tenth and Oscar Piastri to 12th<\/strong>, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli starts fourth with the opportunity to secure the Formula 1 world title.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lewis Hamilton will start Sunday&#8217;s (November 1) Mexico City Grand Prix from pole position, but <strong>the starting grid has undergone a significant reshuffle following Liam Lawson&#8217;s disqualification from qualifying<\/strong>. The Racing Bulls driver was excluded after his car breached Formula 1&#8217;s technical regulations governing MGU-K electrical power, although the FIA subsequently authorised him to participate in the race from the back of the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hamilton secured his first Ferrari pole with a <strong>1:16.514<\/strong>, beating George Russell by just 0.009s. Charles Leclerc qualified third, while championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli moves to fourth after Max Verstappen&#8217;s separate one-place grid penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lawson disqualified after FIA identifies MGU-K infringement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawson initially qualified eighth on Saturday but was already due to lose one position following his collision with Verstappen during Friday&#8217;s second practice session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the FIA subsequently identified a technical infringement on his Racing Bulls during Q2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to technical delegate Jo Bauer, the irregularity occurred immediately after Lawson completed his fastest lap, when the driver&#8217;s maximum power demand and the ERS-K&#8217;s electrical DC power were reduced faster than permitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case involved <strong>Articles C5.12.6 and C5.12.7 of the 2026 Formula 1 Technical Regulations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following an investigation, the stewards ruled that Lawson&#8217;s car had failed to comply with the regulations and <strong>disqualified him from the qualifying classification<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Racing Bulls acknowledged the infringement and argued that the driver had gained no competitive advantage. However, the stewards determined that the absence of a performance benefit did not justify a different sanction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The FIA subsequently issued a separate decision <strong>authorising Lawson to start Sunday&#8217;s Grand Prix<\/strong>, placing him 22nd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision follows the <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/lawson-faces-mexican-gp-qualifying-disqualification-over-mgu-k-technical-breach\/\">original investigation into Lawson&#8217;s MGU-K infringement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mexican GP grid changes as Gasly and H\u00fclkenberg move into top ten<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawson&#8217;s exclusion promotes the drivers who were previously classified behind him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Gasly moves from tenth to ninth<\/strong>, while <strong>H\u00fclkenberg advances from eleventh to tenth<\/strong>, giving Audi a place among the first ten starters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Franco Colapinto rises to eleventh, followed by Piastri in twelfth and Gabriel Bortoleto in thirteenth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Piastri had already endured a difficult qualifying session, failing to reach Q3 for the first time since the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the front, Hamilton retains pole, with Russell alongside him and Leclerc third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antonelli starts fourth, ahead of Verstappen, who received a one-place penalty after <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/verstappen-and-lawson-handed-mexican-gp-grid-penalties-after-f1-practice-collision\/\">colliding with Lawson during FP2<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mexican GP 2026 \u2014 Revised starting grid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Pos.<\/th><th>Driver<\/th><th>Team \/ Engine<\/th><th>Qualifying time<\/th><th>Gap<\/th><th>Penalty<\/th><\/tr><tr><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>L. HAMILTON<\/strong><\/td><td>Ferrari<\/td><td><strong>1:16.514<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>G. RUSSELL<\/td><td>Mercedes<\/td><td>1:16.523<\/td><td>+0.009<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>C. LECLERC<\/td><td>Ferrari<\/td><td>1:16.633<\/td><td>+0.119<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>A. K. ANTONELLI<\/td><td>Mercedes<\/td><td>1:16.707<\/td><td>+0.193<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5<\/td><td>M. VERSTAPPEN<\/td><td>Red Bull RBPT Ford<\/td><td>1:16.692<\/td><td>+0.178<\/td><td>+1<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6<\/td><td>L. NORRIS<\/td><td>McLaren Mercedes<\/td><td>1:16.824<\/td><td>+0.310<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7<\/td><td>I. HADJAR<\/td><td>Red Bull RBPT Ford<\/td><td>1:16.900<\/td><td>+0.386<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8<\/td><td>A. LINDBLAD<\/td><td>Racing Bulls RBPT Ford<\/td><td>1:17.117<\/td><td>+0.603<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9<\/td><td>P. GASLY<\/td><td>Alpine Mercedes<\/td><td>1:17.153<\/td><td>+0.639<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10<\/td><td>N. H\u00dcLKENBERG<\/td><td>Audi<\/td><td>1:17.306<\/td><td>+0.792<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>11<\/td><td>F. COLAPINTO<\/td><td>Alpine Mercedes<\/td><td>1:17.640<\/td><td>+1.126<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>12<\/td><td>O. PIASTRI<\/td><td>McLaren Mercedes<\/td><td>1:17.646<\/td><td>+1.132<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>13<\/td><td>G. BORTOLETO<\/td><td>Audi<\/td><td>1:17.680<\/td><td>+1.166<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>14<\/td><td>O. BEARMAN<\/td><td>Haas Ferrari<\/td><td>1:18.083<\/td><td>+1.569<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>15<\/td><td>C. SAINZ<\/td><td>Williams Mercedes<\/td><td>1:18.885<\/td><td>+2.371<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>16<\/td><td>A. ALBON<\/td><td>Williams Mercedes<\/td><td>1:18.905<\/td><td>+2.391<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>17<\/td><td>F. ALONSO<\/td><td>Aston Martin Honda<\/td><td>1:18.908<\/td><td>+2.394<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>18<\/td><td>R. HIRAKAWA<\/td><td>Haas Ferrari<\/td><td>1:18.858<\/td><td>+2.344<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>19<\/td><td>L. STROLL<\/td><td>Aston Martin Honda<\/td><td>1:19.072<\/td><td>+2.558<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>20<\/td><td>S. P\u00c9REZ<\/td><td>Cadillac Ferrari<\/td><td>1:19.105<\/td><td>+2.591<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>21<\/td><td>V. BOTTAS<\/td><td>Cadillac Ferrari<\/td><td>1:20.401<\/td><td>+3.887<\/td><td><strong>+50<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>22<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>L. LAWSON<\/strong><\/td><td>Racing Bulls RBPT Ford<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td><strong>DSQ<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Starting order following Lawson&#8217;s qualifying disqualification. The FIA authorised him to race despite his exclusion. Qualifying times were recorded in different segments and are not directly comparable across Q1, Q2 and Q3. Further changes to starting procedures remain possible.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Antonelli starts fourth with historic F1 championship in sight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The revised grid also places Antonelli in a strong position to secure the Drivers&#8217; Championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Mercedes driver arrived in Mexico with a <strong>123-point advantage over Russell<\/strong> after winning the United States Grand Prix at Austin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A ninth-place finish would guarantee Antonelli the championship<\/strong>, regardless of his rivals&#8217; results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Italian qualified fifth on outright pace but moves to fourth following Verstappen&#8217;s penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antonelli admitted feeling tense during qualifying, although he had demonstrated strong pace throughout the weekend, finishing just 0.001s behind Lando Norris in FP3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/can-andrea-kimi-antonelli-win-2026-f1-title-from-fourth-on-mexican-gp-grid\/\">complete title scenarios after qualifying<\/a> explain how he could also secure the championship with a lower finishing position depending on the results of Russell and Hamilton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hamilton, meanwhile, will attempt to convert his first Ferrari pole into his first Grand Prix victory for the Italian team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The seven-time champion <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/hamilton-ends-1197-day-f1-pole-drought-in-mexico-and-becomes-fifth-oldest-polesitter\/\">ended a 1,197-day pole drought in Mexico<\/a>, becoming the fifth-oldest polesitter in Formula 1 history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hirakawa prepares for debut as Alonso&#8217;s race status remains uncertain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ry\u014d Hirakawa is scheduled to make his Formula 1 debut for Haas after the team&#8217;s unexpected decision to replace Esteban Ocon during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Japanese driver is listed 18th on the revised grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/ocon-admits-haas-dispute-but-categorically-denies-physical-violence-allegations\/\">Ocon subsequently acknowledged a disagreement within Haas but categorically denied allegations of physical violence<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fernando Alonso is listed 17th after an ERS-related water-pressure problem forced him to stop during Q1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Spaniard subsequently suggested that he might travel directly to Brazil rather than compete in Mexico, although Aston Martin had not formally confirmed his withdrawal at the time of the initial reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sergio P\u00e9rez is listed 20th following Cadillac&#8217;s precautionary power unit change, while teammate Bottas occupies 21st after receiving a cumulative 50-place grid penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lawson completes the 22-driver order following his technical disqualification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What time does the Mexican Grand Prix start?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix takes place on <strong>Sunday, November 1, at 14:00 local time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race is scheduled for 71 laps at the Aut\u00f3dromo Hermanos Rodr\u00edguez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The start corresponds to <strong>20:00 GMT in the United Kingdom, 15:00 EST in New York and Toronto, and 12:00 PST in Los Angeles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Viewers in India will watch the race at 01:30 IST on Monday, November 2, while the start is scheduled for 07:00 AEDT in Sydney and Melbourne and 09:00 NZDT in Auckland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/strong> is following every session of the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/\">Formula 1 section<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lewis Hamilton starts from pole ahead of George Russell, while Liam Lawson drops to 22nd after an MGU-K technical infringement. Andrea Kimi Antonelli lines up fourth with the 2026 championship within reach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020319876,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Liam Lawson","42wp_featured_image_credits":"Red Bull Content Pool","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_ai_content_disclaimer":"","42wp_is_ai_content":false,"42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[{"id":7,"location":""}],"footnotes":"","42wp_hide_from_automatic":false,"42wp_breaking_news":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[324,63,196,963],"42wp_author":[7],"class_list":["post-4784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-f1","tag-formula-1","tag-lewis-hamilton","tag-liam-lawson","tag-mexican-grand-prix","42wp_author-victor-martins"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4784"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4784\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4785,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4784\/revisions\/4785"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020319876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4784"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=4784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}