With seventeen races already completed this year, we are all set to witness the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix, the sport’s current halt. But make no mistake for this is round #19 of the current Formula 1 season
in which a race was cancelled. Remember the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that never happened owing to the skirmishes in the Middle East region?
A race not happening was a strange case of being something like a DNS where a driver doesn’t start or didn’t start the Grand Prix. But well, that’s how it goes at times.
So what couldn’t happen didn’t, what could and most certainly will in the next few hours is the coronation of a certain Kimi Antonelli as the sport’s youngest world champion at the soon-to-begin Mexican Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton claimed his first No. 1 pole position with Ferrari. It is a emotional moment for Ferrari supporters.
At 41, the oldest to take the start as pole leader since Mario Andretti in 1982. This is also Hamilton’s 105th start as pole leader.
#MexicoGP https://t.co/TM0doTPLbj— Vishal S S Mehra (@weshalltalkcric) November 1, 2026
All that the phenomenal Mercedes driver needs to claim his prized crown is a P9 finish, which will award him 2 points, the number he needs to do the statistical requirement in order to lift the current driver’s title. And remember that’s when the Italian driver, who’s all of 20, is competing in just his second ever year in the top flight of Motorsport.
If one can’t appreciate that effort, then probably it’s fair to say being a miser with compliments and extending regards isn’t even fair. Or wise.
But while it’s going to be all hunky and dory for one Italian in what lies ahead unless and until something untoward or dramatic happens at the Mexico City, one wonders what about the famed racing team that’s Italian? The one that’s F1’s most famous racing marquee, Ferrari?
What is Ferrari’s record like at the Mexican Grand Prix. Simply put, just how many race wins have Ferrari gathered at a track that’s home to noted Mexican driver Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez?
Before we get to the real math, it’s important to reflect on the time where Ferrari faced raced at the Mexican Grand Prix.
To be precise, the first ever Mexican Grand Prix came to be held at the Mexico City on October 27, 1963, with the race held on a track the though situated in the Mexican capital, bore a significantly different look to what it sports now.
It was also, however, known by its former name- the Autódromo Magdalena Mixhuca.
Today, the event is called the Mexico City Grand Prix that’s held at the capital city. And the venue or the track is simply known as Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez National.
What we have to remember but is often neglected is that while, technically speaking, the first ever Mexico F1 race was held in 1962, not 1963, the event was a non championship Grand Prix. The points and positions didn’t matter as they weren’t accounted for or considered to be included in official scoring. This perhaps explains why the maiden F1 race at the Mexico City is considered to be the 1963 Grand Prix held here.
And back then, which is you think about was some 63 years ago, saw the Ferrari drivers- John Surtees and Lorenzo Bandini- bag a P2 and P7, respectively in qualifying. But on race day, while the legendary Surtees, also a motorcycle championship winner, suffered a DSQ, his teammate, the Italian driver Bandini registered a retirement on lap 36 due to an ignition problem with the car.
Both Ferraris, therefore, failed to even score a single point in their inaugural drive at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Since then, Ferrari have only been able to win as many as 3 race wins at this venue, with a victory each belonging to with Jacky Ickx in 1970 (Model 312 B), Alain Prost in 1990 (Model F1-90), and Carlos Sainz in 2024 (Model SF24).
This time around, however, there is a great chance for Sir Lewis Hamilton to convert his first ever Ferrari pole position, which came just hours ago at the Mexico City circuit into a brilliant race win.
Can he do that or will the likes of George Russell, who’s had a tremendous qualifying session, or Leclerc or Verstappen, a five time race winner at the venue, stop the tireless Hamilton (a two time winner here with Mercedes) from taking his win? There’s so much to play for at the Mexico City Grand Prix that Kimi Antonelli’s sensational almost confirmed world title win here at Mexico might not be the only gripping tale for this weekend.
