The 2026 Mexican Grand Prix is shaping up to be a truly unique weekend, and it all kicks off this Friday at the iconic Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. What makes this particular Friday especially interesting is that Free Practice 1 will feature an unusual lineup, with a total of ten rookies getting their first taste of Mexico City's challenging circuit. It's going to be a proper spectacle for fans to witness the next generation of F1 talent.
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The rookie roster is seriously impressive. Names like Nikola Tsolov, Freddie Slater, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Colton Herta will all be getting their shot in FP1, giving the public a chance to see some fresh faces that are expected to be regulars on the grid in the coming years. This kind of driver diversity makes for brilliant viewing and gives these young guns valuable seat time on one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.
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Meanwhile, Free Practice 2 is already proving crucial for the established drivers who are still finding their groove ahead of the main event. Andrea Kimi Antonelli currently leads the championship standings for Mercedes Benz with a comfortable 365 points, while George Russell sits second on 242 points. Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, is third with 241 points, so Mercedes has their hands full protecting what looks like a dominant position heading into the final stretch of the season.
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The Mexico City track is absolutely brutal. At 4,304 kilometers in length, drivers will tackle 71 laps to cover 305.354 kilometers total, with the lap record sitting at 1:17.774, set by Valtteri Bottas in 2021. Friday's schedule has Free Practice 1 getting underway at 19:30 and Free Practice 2 starting at 23:00, both broadcast on Canal+ Sport 360. It's going to be a late night for fans, but absolutely worth staying up for.
Shop the collection: Lewis Hamilton merch • George Russell merch • Kimi Antonelli merch • Scuderia Ferrari merch • Mercedes-AMG merch
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