F1 Mexico Grand Prix LIVE: Carlos Sainz starts on pole as Lando Norris challenges championship leader Max Verstappen
F1 live updates from the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as the world title battle continues with Max Verstappen on front row and Carlos Sainz on pole
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The F1 weekend reaches its climax in Mexico City tonight with Lando Norris set to continue his rivalry with Max Verstappen following the highly contentious battle in Austin.
Verstappen has won five of the last six races at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez and will be aiming to edge one step closer to a fourth world championship title.
Charles Leclerc produced a sensational drive to claim victory at the US Grand Prix with Ferrari impressing with a one-two thanks to Carlos Sainz. The Scuderia are contending a fierce battle with McLaren and Red Bull for the constructors’ championship, with qualifying set to be vital here. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes will bid to banish a nightmare weekend last time out in Texas.
Follow live updates from the Mexican Grand Prix with The Independent:
Norris ‘happy’ with P3
Lando Norris continues his challenge to win the Formula 1 world title as the drivers race in the Mexico Grand Prix tonight. It promises to be an intriguing contest with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz taking pole position and Max Verstappen also on the front row.
Norris starts third and will be hoping to pip his rival Verstappen to the first corner and take control of the race. Speaking after qualifying yesterday Norris said: “I am relatively happy to be P3.
“I felt a bit on the back foot and have not been that comfortable at all. We found some good sectors in qualifying. Q1 and Q2 were very good.
“I just couldn’t progress from there, the car was too difficult to drive in Q3. Too difficult to get the three tenths out of it compared to Carlos.
“But I am pleased with third. It looked like it could have been better but I think we finished where we should be.”
Verstappen qualifies ahead of Norris
Max Verstappen hailed an “incredible result” after he recovered from struggles in practice to finish ahead of title rival Lando Norris in qualifying for the Mexico Grand Prix.
“To be on the front row is an incredible result for us,” Verstappen said, “Yesterday was basically a complete write-off. We were behind and the car was not feeling great. Everything was very difficult.
“So it was always going to be a tough qualifying, we made some adjustments and it started to feel better.
“I don’t expect miracles (on race pace). In Austin, Ferrari were really fast, McLaren were competitive, so from my side I guess we will find out.”
How can I watch it online and on TV?
The Mexico City Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom - and ESPN in the United States. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 6:30pm (GMT).
You can watch highlights on free-to-air Channel 4 at 8:30am (GMT) on Sunday morning for qualifying and 12:30am on Monday morning for the race.
Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action in Mexico City on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the Mexico Grand Prix then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market.
When is the Mexico City Grand Prix?
Sunday 27 October
- Race: 8pm (GMT) - Coverage starts on Sky Sports at 6.30pm
Starting positions for Mexico Grand Prix
What is the starting grid?
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
- Kevin Magnussen, Haas
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine
- Alex Albon, Williams
- Nico Hülkenberg, Haas
- Yuki Tsunoda, RB
- Liam Lawson, RB
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
- Valtteri Bottas, Sauber
- Franco Colapinto, Williams
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Sergio Perez, Red Bull
- Esteban Ocon, Alpine
- Zhou Guanyu, Sauber
F1 2025 grid: Who are the drivers racing next season?
The 2025 F1 season starts on Sunday 16 March at Albert Park in Australia.
It will be another 24-race season and there will be no new races in the calendar. However, there are a host of new drivers at fresh teams.
The biggest change is of course Lewis Hamilton’s mega-move to Ferrari, with Italian teen Kimi Antonelli replacing Hamilton at Mercedes. Carlos Sainz has joined Alex Albon at Williams.
British teenager Ollie Bearman has been promoted to a race seat at Haas, with Esteban Ocon partnering him having left Alpine. Jack Doohan has taken Ocon’s place while at Sauber, Nico Hulkenberg has taken one seat with the second yet to be confirmed.
Who are the drivers on the 2025 F1 grid?
The grid will be much changed from the 2024 season with a host of new drivers joining the fray
F1 Driver Standings
A reminder of how the top of the driver standings looks as we approach the start of the Mexico GP.
1 - Max Verstappen - 354pts
2 - Lando Norris - 297pts
3 - Charles Leclerc - 275pts
4 - Oscar Piastri - 247pts
5 - Carlos Sainz - 215pts
Lewis Hamilton reveals biggest frustration after latest F1 setback: ‘I’m losing all the time’
Lewis Hamilton was left frustrated after another F1 setback as the Mercedes driver finished sixth in qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The Briton failed to hide his emotions after Q3, which included a costly spin on the penultimate corner, ensuring teammate George Russell has now bettered him in qualifying 15 times out of 20.
And Hamilton, who will join Ferrari for the 2025 season, cut a dejected figure following what he described as a “drastic” regression in performance over the course of practice and qualifying.
Lewis Hamilton reveals biggest frustration after latest F1 setback
The Mercedes driver finished behind teammate George Russell and will start the Mexico City Grand Prix in sixth
Max Verstappen qualifies ahead of Lando Norris but ‘question marks’ set up Mexico City thriller
Max Verstappen edged out title rival Lando Norris as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz claimed pole position at the Mexico Grand Prix.
Norris trails Verstappen by 57 points in the drivers’ championship with five races remaining and 146 points up for grabs and needs to start making major inroads into the Dutchman’s advantage.
McLaren failed in their bid to overturn Norris’s controversial penalty which demoted him behind Verstappen in Austin, Texas, last weekend – a result the British driver labelled a “momentum killer” in his pursuit of a maiden title.
Verstappen edges out Norris but ‘question marks’ set up Mexico City thriller
Carlos Sainz claimed pole but Verstappen joined the Ferrari on the front row after a fine drive once again in the Red Bull
Lando Norris makes admission in F1 title fight with Max Verstappen: ‘It’s a shame but it’s the truth’
Lando Norris has admitted he is “not quite” at Max Verstappen’s “level” during this critical juncture in the Formula 1 title race.
Norris had two chances to narrow the gap to title leader Verstappen last weekend, in Saturday’s US Grand Prix sprint race and in Sunday’s standard race.
Red Bull’s Verstappen started on pole in the sprint and converted for a win, while McLaren’s Norris dropped from second to third. Then, on Sunday, Norris dropped from pole to fourth, while Verstappen fell from second to third.
“Max is the best in the world in this style of defence and attacking,” Norris said via the BBC. “So, I have to be at his level.”
Lando Norris makes Max Verstappen admission: ‘It’s a shame but it’s the truth’
Norris missed two chances to narrow the gap to the title leader last weekend
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