Paddock news

1. Championship

   Antonelli is the youngest world champion in F1 history

   Third place in Mexico City was enough for Kimi Antonelli to clinch his first title with four rounds to go. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver needed only a top-nine finish and becomes the youngest champion the sport has had.

   Source: Formula1.com

2. Race

   Verstappen wins in Mexico City, 0.799s ahead of Hamilton

   Max Verstappen won a race stopped by a red flag when Valtteri Bottas crashed with a suspension failure, though Bottas was checked and cleared. Lewis Hamilton was second, Antonelli third and Charles Leclerc fourth after a five-second penalty for their first-lap clash.

   Sources: Formula1.com, PlanetF1

3. Lusail

   Yamaha pulls its four bikes out of MotoGP at Lusail

   Yamaha and Pramac will miss the Qatar round on 6 to 8 November, citing company-wide travel restrictions, and plan to return in Portugal. MotoGP says the event goes ahead, the rest of the grid has confirmed, and any sporting sanctions are a matter for the FIM.

   Sources: The Race, Gulf News

1. Race

   Hamilton takes his first Ferrari pole in Mexico, 0.009s clear of Russell

   Lewis Hamilton set a 1:16.514 to beat George Russell by 0.009s, with Charles Leclerc third. Kimi Antonelli starts fourth after Max Verstappen took a one-place penalty for the Friday clash with Liam Lawson, and he is champion on Sunday if he finishes ninth or higher.

   Sources: Sky Sports, RacingNews365

2. Lusail

   MotoGP keeps Lusail on as riders face possible sanctions for staying away

   MotoGP still says the 6 to 8 November round will go ahead. Riders who miss Friday at Lusail without an accepted reason could be left out of the last two races, according to Autosport as reported by Grande Premio, though Reuters says no decision on sanctions has been made.

   Source: Grande Premio

1. Race

   Leclerc fastest in Mexico practice as Verstappen and Lawson collide

   Charles Leclerc set a 1:17.827 to top second practice, 0.103s ahead of Lando Norris and 0.106s clear of George Russell. Kimi Antonelli was back on track and fourth. Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson made contact, bringing a red flag, and Lewis Hamilton stopped with a power problem.

   Sources: Formula1.com, PlanetF1

1. Lusail

   MotoGP presses on with Lusail despite rider objections

   MotoGP is still planning to race at Lusail on 6 to 8 November, though many riders remain opposed and written guarantees on evacuation and costs were not fully agreed on 29 October, according to Crash.net. No manufacturer has announced a boycott.

   Sources: Crash.net, Grande Premio

2. Championship

   Antonelli skips Mexico media day with a viral illness

   The championship leader was excused from Thursday media duties in Mexico City to rest, and Mercedes expects him back on Friday. Valtteri Bottas also missed the day through illness, though Cadillac says his weekend is not affected for now.

   Sources: Sky Sports, ESPN

1. Lusail

   MotoGP and riders still negotiating safety guarantees for Lusail

   Riders met team managers at Sepang on 28 October to discuss written guarantees for the Qatar round on 6 to 8 November, including an evacuation plan and cover if airspace closes. No deal yet, but one is expected within days, according to Autosport.

   Source: Autosport

2. Championship

   Perez extends his Cadillac contract to the end of 2029

   Cadillac has signed Sergio Perez to a new deal running until at least the end of 2029. He makes his 300th grand prix start at his home race in Mexico City this weekend.

   Source: Sky Sports

3. Race

   Verstappen and Norris join the list of ten drivers missing FP1 in Mexico

   Ten teams will run a young driver in first practice in Mexico City. Ayumu Iwasa takes Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Leonardo Fornaroli drives Lando Norris’s McLaren. Ferrari is the only team keeping both race drivers.

   Source: Sky Sports

1. Race

   Russell and Colapinto among those sitting out first practice in Mexico

   Fred Vesti takes George Russell’s Mercedes in first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, and Alpine junior Gabriele Mini makes his F1 debut in place of Franco Colapinto. Freddie Slater, Jak Crawford and Luke Browning also get FP1 runs.

   Sources: RacingNews365 (Russell), RacingNews365 (Colapinto)

1. Lusail

   MotoGP boss heads to Doha this week to seek Lusail safety assurances

   MotoGP deputy CEO Carlos Ezpeleta is travelling to Doha this week to seek assurances that the Qatar Grand Prix on 6 to 8 November can run safely, according to Crash.net. Riders have asked for guarantees, and the race remains on the calendar for now.

   Source: Crash.net

1. Championship

   Antonelli can seal the title with a top-nine finish in Mexico City

   After Austin, Kimi Antonelli leads George Russell by 123 points and Lewis Hamilton by 124, with 125 still available. Finishing ninth or better at the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 November would make him champion with four rounds left.

   Source: Sky Sports

2. Race

   Antonelli wins in Austin but the title has to wait

   Kimi Antonelli won the United States Grand Prix from pole, 13.078s clear of Charles Leclerc, with Max Verstappen third and Lewis Hamilton fourth. George Russell took a five-second penalty for a first-lap clash with Oscar Piastri and finished eighth.

   Sources: Formula1.com, Sky Sports

1. Lusail

   MotoGP riders ask for evacuation guarantees before Lusail

   Riders want an evacuation plan for the paddock and cover for hotel costs if airspace closures leave them stuck in Doha, according to Crash.net. MotoGP still says the Lusail race on 6 to 8 November will go ahead.

   Source: Crash.net

2. Race

   Antonelli takes pole in Austin with the title within reach

   Kimi Antonelli qualified on pole for the United States Grand Prix with a 1:34.035, 0.179s clear of Max Verstappen, with Isack Hadjar third. A win on Sunday makes him champion unless George Russell, sixth on the grid, finishes in the top eight or Lewis Hamilton finishes fourth or higher.

   Sources: Sky Sports, The Race

1. Lusail

   MotoGP riders reportedly vote against racing at Lusail in November

   About two-thirds of riders at a private meeting at Phillip Island voted against travelling to Qatar, according to The Race. MotoGP says it still plans to race at Lusail on 6 to 8 November, with safety the priority and contingency plans being prepared.

   Sources: The Race, Crash.net

2. Race

   Leclerc tops both practice sessions in Austin

   Charles Leclerc set the pace in first and second practice at the United States Grand Prix, ending Friday on a 1:35.291. Kimi Antonelli was 0.042s behind in the second session, with Max Verstappen third. Qualifying follows on Saturday.

   Sources: RacingNews365, The Race

3. Race

   Bortoleto, Colapinto and Lindblad take grid penalties in Austin

   All three went over their power unit allowances. Gabriel Bortoleto drops 20 places for a fourth energy store and control electronics unit, Franco Colapinto 10 for extra control electronics and Arvid Lindblad five for a sixth engine.

   Sources: Formula1.com, The Race

1. Qatar GP

   Sainz says it is too early to be sure of the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races

   Speaking in Austin as a GPDA director, Carlos Sainz said events in the region could still change before the last two rounds. Williams later issued his statement that he trusts the FIA and F1 to put safety first. The Lusail race remains set for 29 November.

   Sources: ESPN, The Race

1. Qatar GP

   Lusail chief says preparations for November are nearly complete

   Circuit CEO Abdulaziz Ali Al-Muhannadi says work is on track for MotoGP and the Qatar Grand Prix three weeks later, according to RacingNews365. F1 has announced no change and the Lusail race remains set for 29 November.

   Source: RacingNews365

2. Race

   Both Mercedes drivers to run the latest upgrade in Austin

   Only Antonelli used the new aero package in Singapore, but Russell will run it too at the United States Grand Prix. Mercedes lead Ferrari by 134 points in the constructors’ standings and could seal that title as early as Mexico City.

   Source: Sky Sports

1. Qatar GP

   FIA president says the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races will go ahead

   Mohammed Ben Sulayem told reporters on 20 October that both season-closing rounds will happen as planned, with Imola kept on standby. The FIA also has a back-up team ready in case travel restrictions stop key staff attending. The Lusail race remains set for 29 November.

   Sources: The Race, Crash.net

1. Championship

   McLaren reserve Fornaroli gets two more practice runs and a Le Mans seat

   The 2025 Formula 2 champion will drive McLaren’s car in first practice in Mexico City and São Paulo. Next year he joins the team’s new Hypercar line-up in the World Endurance Championship, Le Mans included, while staying on as F1 reserve.

   Sources: Formula1.com, GPFans

The full points tables and the next race are on the standings page. For the Qatar weekend itself, start with the event guides.

• October 2026 11 items