Overview
- Lando Norris starts P1 ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, with George Russell P4 and Max Verstappen P5 on the Mexico City grid.
- Carlos Sainz serves a carried‑over five‑place penalty for a US GP collision with Kimi Antonelli, dropping from P7 to P12 and promoting Oscar Piastri to P7.
- Lights out is scheduled for 2pm local time (CST), with UK viewers on Greenwich Mean Time following Sunday’s clock change.
- Four drivers remain in title contention entering round 20, with championship leader Oscar Piastri reported off his usual form this weekend.
- The high‑altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez reduces downforce and emphasizes the tow on the long run to Turn 1, shaping race strategy.