Mexico City Grand Prix: Everything to know for the year’s premier motor sports event

Formula 1 — the world’s most popular motorsport series — is in Mexico City this week for the 21st race of its 2026 season.

Widely viewed as one of the most vibrant, high-energy and uniquely festive spectacles on the F1 calendar, the Mexico City Grand Prix is expected to attract 400,000 fans to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez this weekend.

For most in Mexico, Guadalajara native Sergio “Checo” Pérez is the star attraction of this year’s F1 event and will be competing in his 10th Mexico City GP. Checo — who missed last year’s race after being released by Red Bull following the 2024 season — will be racing for Cadillac, a constructor in its first year of competition. 

Helping make his return to his home country extra special, Cadillac announced on Wednesday that it had signed Checo to a contract extension, keeping the six-time Grand Prix winner with the team through the 2029 season. 

Checo has another reason to celebrate. Sunday’s race will be his 300th F1 race, making him the seventh driver in history to reach that number. As if getting to achieve that milestone at home is not enough, Checo also made a special appearance in the capital on Wednesday.

Driving a modified Formula 2 car, Pérez rumbled along the Paseo de la Reforma avenue in front of an estimated 100,000 onlookers. He burned rubber while performing donuts near the Diana roundabout, then stopped at the Angel of Independence Monument to acknowledge the fans.

“I know some of you have been here since last ​night. I really appreciate it,” Checo told the crowd. “You guys are one of the main reasons I ​came back.”

The what, when and where of the F-1 weekend 

For those planning on attending the F-1 race, the Hermanos Rodríguez circuit is inside the Ciudad Deportiva de la Magdalena Mixhuca public park located at the eastern terminus of the Viaducto Río de la Piedad (Viaducto Miguel Alemán). It can also be reached by Metrobus (Line 2) and Metro (Line 9).

Tickets are available via the Official Mexico GP Website, the Formula 1 Official Ticket Portal or through verified secondary resale markets like StubHub.

As for the event, drivers will take two practice runs on Friday, while the third practice run and qualifying take place Saturday.

The Mexico City GP, featuring 71 laps of the 4.3-kilometer (2.6-mile) track, begins at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Of note, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, 20, could become the youngest champion in series history by finishing in the top nine.

Also competing is five-time Mexico City GP winner Max Verstappen (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023). Sergio Pérez was Verstappen’s teammate from 2021 through 2024.

With reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, The Straits Times and Grand Prix 247