Last updated: 1 November 2026, 18:21 GMT. Pre-race report: qualifying took place on 31 October; the Grand Prix has not started at this update.
The Mexico City GP starts at 8pm UK time on Sunday 1 November, with Lewis Hamilton on pole for Ferrari after beating George Russell by just nine thousandths of a second in Saturday’s qualifying at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
What happened in Mexico City GP qualifying?
Formula 1’s original qualifying report, published on 31 October, confirms Hamilton ended a Grand Prix pole drought stretching back to Hungary in 2023. This is a regular Grand Prix qualifying milestone: it should not be confused with sprint qualifying.
The official qualifying classification records Russell on 1:16.523 and Leclerc on 1:16.633. Hamilton’s advantage over Russell was 0.009 seconds; Leclerc was 0.119 seconds behind Hamilton. Those are Saturday’s lap times, not a race result.
Why the qualifying order is not the starting grid
The separate official starting-grid page places Antonelli ahead of Verstappen, who qualified fourth but received a one-place grid penalty for a collision in second practice. Lando Norris starts sixth.
Liam Lawson originally qualified eighth, but Formula 1’s subsequent technical-breach report confirms his disqualification from qualifying. The published grid lists him 22nd. That later decision is why simply copying Saturday’s first timesheet would give readers the wrong running order.
Independent corroboration: Reuters’ report also distinguishes Hamilton’s regular Grand Prix pole from his Ferrari sprint poles and reports Antonelli’s promotion to fourth.
What UK viewers should do
The official timetable gives a 14:00 local start on 1 November and states Mexico City is six hours behind UTC. With Brighton on GMT, that makes the scheduled start 8pm here. The race is scheduled for 71 laps, subject to the event timetable and race conditions.
Use the official race hub for live updates and viewing information, and check the provider and package available to you before paying. Our Austin race report provides the previous round’s context.
Brighton Locals’ view
Editorial judgement: Hamilton’s narrow pole makes the front-row contest worth watching, but one lap cannot establish Ferrari’s race pace. The useful distinction tonight is between the qualifying achievement, the amended grid and the result still to come. None should be presented as the others.
What to watch next
The start, the confirmed race classification and any subsequent stewards’ decisions will determine the outcome. This page can be expanded with the verified result; pole position alone is no promise of victory.
Bottom line: Hamilton has the first-place start; the race is still ahead, at 8pm in Brighton.
Archive: Lewis Hamilton driving Ferrari’s number 44 car during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, 25 July 2025. Skyebble / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0, resized. It does not show Mexico City qualifying.
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