It’s time for Round 19 of the Formula One World Championship. After last weekend’s race in the United States, F1 is inMexico City for the Mexican Grand Prix, Arriving at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for the eleventh straight year for a weekend full of action.
A Championship Deciding Weekend
Last weekend in Austin, Texas the championship battle was alive and well with both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in perfect position to defend against Kimi Antonelli. This weekend, however, things are shaping up to look entirely different. Thanks to his win last weekend Antonelli is entering this weekend under perfect circumstances to bring home his very first F1 World Championship title.
Antonelli currently leads the Championship standings with 365 points. Meanwhile, Russell has a gap of 123 points, while Hamilton is behind by 124 points. As it stands, Antonelli would need to finish ninth place or higher on Sunday in order to clinch the championship. It doesn’t matter where Russell or Hamilton finish in order for this to take place. If this happens, Antonelli will become the youngest F1 World Champion, a record that’s currently held by Sebastian Bettel who won when he was 23 years old.
The Track: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a 4.304 km race track located inside the Magdalena Michuca Sports City public park. The track features 17 different turns with its Primary Overtake Zone being Turn 1 right after the 1.2 km main straight. The circuit’s most notable feature is it’s Foro Sol section that spans across Turns 12-15.
Located 2,200 meters above sea level, the track is the highest-altitude circuit on the Formula 1 calendar. The thin air surrounding the track will provide its own unique set of challenges. Engines are starved of oxygen which will reduce the car’s usually downforce and engine cooling efficiency.
Other Storylines to Follow
While the main focus of the weekend will be the championship, there’s a couple of other storylines to follow as the weekend progresses.
First off, Cadillac driver Sergio Pérez will be celebrating a massive career milestone in front of his home crowd. This Sunday marks Pérez’s 300th Career race start. He made his F1 debut back in 2011 at the Australian Grand Prix. Since then, he’s gone on to amass six wins, 39 podium finishes, 3 pole positions and 12 fastest laps.
Outside of the driver’s championship, it has been a tight race for the Constructor’s championship. Mercedes is predicted to clinch the Constructor’s title with over 600 points already won throughout the season. Ferrari is right behind them with 474. Meanwhile, it’s a battle between Red Bull Racing and McLaren for that third place spot. The two teams sit tied at 355 points each.
Mexico City holds a lot of promise as being the race to watch this eason. With a championship win on the horizon and a a ton of points up for grabs this is one that fans won;t want to miss.
The 2026 Mexican Grand Prix is set to start at 8:00 p.m. CEST on Sunday, November 1.