Formula 1’s final triple-header of the season begins with a return to Mexico and the title race is finely-poised.
The gap between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton is now the biggest it has been since the Austrian Grand Prix back in the summer and, with five races remaining, any error from this point on will be catastrophic.
Mercedes still has fears over the unreliability of its power unit as of late and another engine change for Hamilton isn’t out of the question. On top of that, the team isn’t overly-confident all of the previous issues it has usually faced in Mexico have been solved.
The thinner air has historically led to a reduced level of competitiveness for the team’s engine while Red Bull’s Honda power unit seems to cope just fine with the elevation.
But with that said, who will be heading to Brazil with the points lead? All the times for this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix can be found below.
Key times
If you’re hoping to catch the major sessions just as they happen, here are the times you need to be in front of your TV or have your device set up for.
Qualifying
Live: Saturday, 19:55pm via Sky Sports F1/NowTV
Highlights: Sunday, 8:45am via Channel 4
Race
Live: 18:55pm via Sky Sports F1/NowTV
Highlights: 11:30pm via Channel 4
How many laps is the Mexican Grand Prix?
Sunday’s race will be 71 laps of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. Forecasts predict a dry weekend from start to finish.
Where to watch
Sky Sports F1 will offer every session this weekend live and with pre and post-race coverage. The dedicated channel will also be showing re-runs of the sessions throughout the weekend so if you can’t make one of them live, keep an eye out for a repeat.
On the highlights front, Channel 4 is showing both qualifying and the race though like with the US Grand Prix, qualifying highlights will be shown on Sunday morning due to the time difference. Race highlights are on earlier than last time though, beginning after 11pm Sunday rather than the early hours of Monday morning.
(All times GMT)
Sky Sports F1 – Live
Friday: FP1 – 5pm | FP2 – 8:45pm
Saturday: FP3 – 4:45pm | Qualifying: 7pm
Sunday: Race – 6:55pm
Channel 4 – Highlights
(Late highlights due to time difference)
Sunday: Qualifying – 8:30am
Sunday: Race – 11:35pm
How to stream
Throughout the weekend, NowTV will show each session live via the Sky Sports F1 channel meaning you can keep up to date with the sessions no matter where you are. The app is available on mobile and tablet devices with weekend passes guaranteeing you live action as well as pre and post-race coverage.
Who will win?
There’s a pattern that has emerged in Mexico in recent seasons and that is Mercedes is not at full strength at altitude. With the Mexican GP taking place over 2000m above sea level, the usually class-leading Brixworth-built power unit lags behind those of Honda specification.
Red Bull’s chances of a one-two victory in Mexico are looking strong. The team has historically worked well there and its drivers are operating at a high level as the season’s end draws near.
