Verstappen: Red Bull need to be perfect for F1 title challenge (0:42)Max Verstappen and Lando Norris speak after the United States Grand Prix. (0:42)
Formula 1 has reached the final five races of the season and the drivers’ championship is tantalizingly close between the top three: Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
As McLaren drivers Piastri and Norris battle for their first world title, they have a four-time world champion creeping up behind them, cutting their points advantage at an incredible rate across the last four races. Verstappen’s recent resurgence has meant he has a shot at winning a fifth world title this year.
The early forecast shows a warm and sunny weekend in Mexico City with partial cloud and highs of 26°C (79°F) on Saturday. Friday and Sunday have similar temperatures with a low chance of wind.
STAY CALM: Identifying the threat is one thing, but combatting it is another — how will McLaren manage the Verstappen title threat?
PENALTY: Carlos Sainz has received a five-place grid penalty at the Mexico Grand Prix for colliding with the Mercedes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Sunday’s U.S. Grand Prix. The Williams driver retired from the U.S. Grand Prix, therefore what would’ve been a 10 second penalty in the race has been converted to a grid penalty.
PIASTRI REMAINS CONFIDENT: The Australian remains confident in his F1 world championship chances despite his slashed lead: “I’d still rather be where I am than the other two,” he said.
FP1 NEWBIES: Rising American racing star Jak Crawford will drive in first practice for Aston Martin at the Mexico GP, as Pato O’Ward will drive in Norris’ place for McLaren, and Luke Browning drives for Williams.
UNLAPPED: For more analysis listen to the latest episode of ESPN’s F1 podcast Unlapped with F1 writers Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson.
Oscar Piastri (346 pts) remains the leader, but his advantage is getting progressively smaller as he stands 14 points ahead of Lando Norris (332 pts).
Racing in Mexico City’s Magdalena Mixhuca park dates back to 1959, with the first Formula 1 event at the circuit — a non-championship race — taking place in 1962. Local racing hero Ricardo Rodriguez died during practice for the inaugural F1 event, and from that point onwards the circuit was named after him and brother Pedro, another Mexican racing driver, who died nine years later while racing sports cars.
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez hosted F1 championship rounds from 1963-1970 and again from 1986-1992 before making its return to the calendar in 2015.
The original circuit was known for its fearsome Peraltada corner — a long sweeping right hander before the pit straight with minimal run-off area. When the circuit returned in 2015, the Peraltada had been removed and replaced by the iconic Foro Sol stadium section, which includes two tight corners in a former baseball stadium.
At an altitude of 7,300 feet (2,200 metres), the circuit is the highest on the F1 calendar and presents a unique challenge for teams and drivers. The thinner air means cars run with their highest wing levels but still generate less downforce than they do at Monza, where the lowest wing levels are fitted to reduce drag. The reduced oxygen levels in the air also require the power unit’s turbocharger to spin faster than at sea level, while also creating cooling concerns for tyres and brakes.
Other pole sitters from the current grid: – Hamilton (2016) – Charles Leclerc (2019, 2023) – Verstappen (2022) – Sainz (2024)
Where to watch from: Foro Sol stadium section. A unique part of the track where cars weave through a converted baseball stadium, with fans jam packed into the stands erupting every time cars come through.
Sainz won the dramatic race, with Norris finishing second, while Verstappen dropped to sixth after being hit with two 10-second penalties.
The penalties were for two separate incidents with Norris where Verstappen forced him off the track.
In the UK live broadcast coverage is on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio 5 Live, with highlights on Channel 4.
For news, analysis and updates, follow the coverage with ESPN’s F1 team Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson in Mexico City and on social media.
Session times below in BST (British Summer Time) & GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Local time is (CST) Central Standard Time (BST -7 hours).
Verstappen: Red Bull need to be perfect for F1 title challenge (0:42)Max Verstappen and Lando Norris speak after the United States Grand Prix. (0:42)
As the gaps grow smaller, every point counts in the next few races, so the pressure is on.
Jump to: Circuit history & stats | Race predictions | How to watch | Championship standings
Verstappen (306 pts) is catching up — 40 points behind Piastri, and just 26 behind Norris.
How many points for a race win? Visit our F1 guide for a reminder of how the points system works.
As for a breakdown of podiums and wins, this is how it looks for the top three:
Circuit: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez; Mexico City, Mexico
Most wins: Verstappen with five (2017-2018, 2021-2023).
Other winners from the current grid: – Lewis Hamilton (2016, 2019) – Sainz (2024)
Leclerc finished third, as Ferrari took their third double podium of the 2024 season.
Note UK daylight savings on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 02:00: Clocks go back 1 hour to GMT.
Friday Free practice one: 19:30-20:30 BST Free practice two: 23:00-00:00 BST
Saturday Free practice three: 18:30-19:30 BST Qualifying: 22:00-23:00 BST
Sunday Race starts: 20:00 GMT (live text commentary build-up from 19:00 GMT on ESPN.co.uk/F1).
– Standings | Calendar | Teams – 2025 F1 circuits: Their history, stats and why they’re special – Key facts on drivers, teams, venues, more – Reasons to root for each F1 driver, questions for every team – Meet the rookies: What to expect from F1’s Class of 2025
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris speak after the United States Grand Prix. (0:42)
For fans in the U.S. only, watch live on ESPN and ESPN+.