Mexico City Grand Prix 2026 in Malaysia time: full FP1, qualifying and race schedule
The Mexico City GP runs 30 Oct-1 Nov at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. For Malaysian fans, qualifying starts 5am Sunday and the race 4am Monday.
Formula 1 heads to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez this weekend for the Mexico City Grand Prix, and for fans in Malaysia it is another weekend of early alarms. Mexico City sits 14 hours behind Malaysia, so every on-track session falls between the small hours of Saturday and Monday morning, Malaysia time (MYT). Here is the full schedule converted to MYT, plus what to look out for.
Full session schedule in Malaysia time
The weekend uses the standard format, with three practice sessions, qualifying and the Grand Prix. There is no sprint in Mexico; the season's six sprint events finished in Singapore earlier this month.
| Session | Local time (Mexico City) | Malaysia time (MYT) |
|---|---|---|
| Practice 1 | Fri 30 Oct, 12:30-13:30 | Sat 31 Oct, 2:30am-3:30am |
| Practice 2 | Fri 30 Oct, 16:00-17:00 | Sat 31 Oct, 6:00am-7:00am |
| Practice 3 | Sat 31 Oct, 11:30-12:30 | Sun 1 Nov, 1:30am-2:30am |
| Qualifying | Sat 31 Oct, 15:00-16:00 | Sun 1 Nov, 5:00am-6:00am |
| Grand Prix (71 laps) | Sun 1 Nov, 14:00 | Mon 2 Nov, 4:00am |
Mexico City runs on UTC-6 all year, while Malaysia is UTC+8, which is where the 14-hour gap comes from. The official timetable is still subject to change, so check again on Friday.
Why the race is a Monday-morning watch in Malaysia
The Grand Prix starts at 2pm local time on Sunday 1 November, which is 4am on Monday 2 November in Malaysia. The race is set for 71 laps of the 4.304km circuit, with a two-hour time limit. Fans who want to watch live before work or school should plan for a finish between roughly 5:45am and 6am, depending on Safety Car periods.
Qualifying is a little kinder at 5am on Sunday. Practice 2 at 6am on Saturday is the session most worth catching for anyone wanting a read on race pace, because Practice 1 will look different this year.
What to watch for
A rookie-heavy first practice. Several teams are handing their cars to young drivers in Practice 1 to meet the FIA's mandatory rookie running rules. Confirmed changes include Frederik Vesti for George Russell at Mercedes, Gabriele Minì for Franco Colapinto at Alpine, Freddie Slater for Gabriel Bortoleto at Audi, Luke Browning for Alex Albon at Williams, Jak Crawford for Lance Stroll at Aston Martin and Colton Herta for Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac. The regular drivers return for Practice 2.
Antonelli's first title chance. Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' standings on 365 points, 123 clear of team-mate Russell, with five rounds left. He can seal the crown in Mexico with a ninth-place finish or better.
The altitude factor. The circuit sits about 2,240 metres above sea level. The thin air cuts downforce and makes cooling and turbocharging harder, a fresh test for the 2026 power units.
A tight scrap behind the leader. Russell (242), Lewis Hamilton (241), Max Verstappen (236) and Charles Leclerc (233) are split by just nine points in the race for second place.
Where to watch in Malaysia
beIN Sports holds Formula 1 rights in Malaysia under a deal that runs through the 2030 season. Coverage is carried on regional pay-TV platforms and on the beIN Sports Connect streaming app. Check your provider's listings for channel numbers and any replay slots, especially for the early-morning race.
After Mexico
The season moves straight on to São Paulo on 6-8 November, followed by Las Vegas (19-21 November), Qatar (27-29 November) and the Abu Dhabi finale (4-6 December). Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali confirmed earlier this month that both Middle East rounds will go ahead.
Key takeaways
- Mexico City GP: 30 October to 1 November, standard format with no sprint.
- Qualifying is at 5am MYT on Sunday 1 November; the race is at 4am MYT on Monday 2 November.
- Practice 1 (2:30am MYT Saturday) features at least six rookie or reserve drivers.
- Antonelli leads by 123 points with five rounds left.
- beIN Sports holds the F1 rights in Malaysia.
FAQ
What time is the Mexico City Grand Prix in Malaysia? The race starts at 4am MYT on Monday 2 November 2026, which is 2pm on Sunday in Mexico City.
Is there a sprint race in Mexico this year? No. Mexico uses the standard format. The 2026 sprints were in China, Miami, Canada, Britain, the Netherlands and Singapore.
When is qualifying in Malaysia time? Qualifying runs from 5am to 6am MYT on Sunday 1 November.
Sources: Formula1.com, Crash.net, RacingNews365, Grande Prêmio, Advanced Television, FIA