Times of the F1 GP of Mexico 2022
What time does qualifying for the 2022 F1 GP of Mexico start?
Qualifying for the F1 GP of Mexico begins at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. Indeed, due to the time difference with Mexico – it is seven hours earlier there than in the Netherlands – it will once again be a late night for Dutch race fans. So both qualifying and the race will not be held until the evening (Dutch time).
Pirelli also scheduled a tire test this weekend. Due to heavy rain during the race weekend at Suzuka, tire tests there could not take place. That is now being made up: both last race weekend in Austin and this weekend in Mexico, Pirelli is testing different tires for the 2023 season. Therefore, a longer second free practice is also scheduled.
Times of the F1 GP Mexico 2022
Check out the schedule of all the times of the F1 GP Mexico 2022 below.
| Date | Session | Dutch time |
| Friday, October 28 | 1st free practice | 20.00 – 21.00 |
| Friday, October 28 | 2nd free practice | 23.00 – 00.30 |
| Saturday, October 29 | 3rd free practice | 19.00 – 20.00 |
| Saturday, October 29 | Qualification | 22.00 – 23.00 |
| Sunday, Oct. 30 | Race | 21.00 – 23.00 |
What happened during the 2021 GP of Mexico?
After a year’s absence – the corona year of 2020 – it was Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas who surprisingly got to start from pole position in 2021. However, the Finnish driver enjoyed this only briefly: at the first corner, Max Verstappen passed both Bottas and title rival Lewis Hamilton. After that, the Dutchman slowly but surely disappeared on the horizon.
It was not Bottas’ race. In the second corner, he was tapped backwards by McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo. Starting from the very last place, the Finn had to start a catch-up race. Typical of his miserable race weekend was his attempt to snatch the fastest race lap from Verstappen in the closing stages. He succeeded, but to do so he needed an extra pit stop, dropping back to a dismal fifteenth position.
Max dominant in ‘Maxico’
Up front, a dominant Verstappen was unthreatening on his way to yet his third Mexican Grand Prix victory. This increased his lead over Hamilton in the World Cup to 19 points. That knuckled down to the second position. In the closing stages, he had to work hard to save enough tires and fuel. That allowed local hero Sergio Perez, who finished third, to get anxiously close.
Behind the leaders, Pierre Gasly scored surprisingly well with fourth position. Behind them were the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris split the final World Cup points.
F1 GP of Mexico 2022: what can we expect?
Teams, drivers and race fans barely have time to recover after last weekend’s United States Grand Prix. This weekend it is time for the 22nd edition of the Mexican Grand Prix – the 20th race of the season. Along with British racing legend Jim Clark, Max Verstappen is the record holder with three Mexican wins. Can Max add another win?
After his win in Austin, Max could reach another milestone. Never before has a driver won more than 13 races in a single season. He currently shares that record with Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher (in 2004) and Sebastian Vettel on behalf of Red Bull (in 2013).
For Max’s Mexican Red Bull colleague Perez, second place in the drivers’ championship is still within reach. To do so, he must make up a deficit of only two World Cup points to Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
Behind Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, the tension in the constructors’ championship continues to mount. Alpine (144 World Cup points) is narrowly ahead of McLaren (138 points). Both race teams will do their utmost to secure fourth place in the World Cup.
F1 GP of Mexico: rules and lawsuits
The FIA will rule on an issue between Haas, Red Bull Racing and Alpine ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix. Shortly after the U.S. Grand Prix, Haas filed a protest. Haas disagreed that no action was taken after both Alonso’s Alpine (mirror) and Perez’s Red Bull (front wing) ended up with loose parts on the track. During previous races, Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was penalized in similar situations.
Furthermore, new developments surrounding Red Bull Racing’s budget overrun are not inconceivable. Will this end with a hiss or will this case have a tailspin?
F1 GP of Mexico 2022: weather forecasts
A high chance of rain is predicted in Mexico City this week. By the weekend, however, the clouds decrease and the weekend will be dry and warm. Temperatures are likely to rise to about 30 degrees.
What should you know about the circuit in Mexico City?
Like Monza, the circuit in Mexico City is built around a large city park. Later, the track would be named after two world-famous racing brothers in Mexico: Autodrómo Hermanos Rodríguez.
In 1962, Formula One cars tore around the track for the first time, although this race was not part of the world championship. A year later, in 1963, it was: in his Lotus, Jim Clark took the win and later the championship. For a few years, the Mexican Grand Prix was a celebratory finale to the Formula One season. Mexico City, however, increasingly began to come apart at the seams. Gigantic crowds of racing fans and increasing air pollution led to the cancellation of the Mexican Grand Prix.
Between 1986 and 1992 it was raced again, but its final return came in 2015. The circuit is more than two kilometers above sea level. As a result, the thin air creates less drag and can lead to breathtaking races. Especially spectacular are the turns in the old Foro Sol baseball stadium, where race fans have great views.
Mexico in facts and figures:
Official name: Formula 1 Gran Premio de la Ciudad de México 2022
Location: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico
Circuit length: 4.304 km
Number of laps: 71
Number of bends: 17
Total race distance: 305.354 km
Lap record: 1:17:774 Valtteri Bottas (2021)
