🇲🇽 2026 MEXICO CITY GP REPORT
Franco showed points-scoring pace once again in Mexico and crossed the line P8
Published
04 Nov 2026
Est. reading time
3 min
FRANCO COMPLETES HIS MOST SOLID RACE IN WEEKS AND CROSSES THE LINE P8 IN MEXICO
An aggressive start, a well-executed strategy and nerves of steel through a red flag and two safety cars: Franco took the chequered flag in P8 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, on the same afternoon that Antonelli was crowned the youngest champion in F1 history.
Unfortunately, a 10-second penalty officially dropped Franco to P15, but the message was clear: the 43 is back in the fight.
Circuit: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
Date: 1 November 2026
Podium results
🥇 P1 VER - 2:20:28.772
🥈 P2 HAM - 2:20:29.571
🥉 P3 ANT - 2:20:32.778
🇦🇷 P15 Franco Colapinto - no points (P8 on track)
🇫🇷 P17 GAS - no points (P10 on track)
Franco’s highlights
The fastest of all through the speed trap in Qualifying, at 351 km/h more than 2,000 metres above sea level
A great start from P11: he gained places on the opening lap and moved into the points
Set Alpine’s fastest lap of the race (1:20.750) without a single track limits infringement in 71 laps
Crossed the line P8, but a 10-second penalty for a yellow flag infringement dropped him to P15
Technical data - Franco
FP1: did not take part (MIN drove his car, as planned by the team)
FP2: P16 (1:19.132)
FP3: P12 (1:18.652)
Qualifying: P12 (1:17.640)
Start: P11
Result on track: P8
Official result: P15 (10-second post-race penalty)
Fastest lap: 1:20.750
Tyres: Mediums at the start → new Softs on lap 34 → used Softs from the red flag (lap 45)
How the race unfolded
Franco started P11 and made the most of the longest run of the season down to Turn 1 to gain places straight away. By lap 12 he was already up to P9, looking after his tyres so well that the team extended the plan by five laps and he only pitted on lap 34.
Then came the chaos: a red flag following BOT’s crash (he walked away uninjured), a restart and a late safety car. Franco held his position at every restart and crossed the line P8.
Once the race was over, the stewards penalised him for not slowing down enough under yellow flags, an unexpected ending to an afternoon in which he had done everything so well.
What Franco said:
“It’s a very bitter end after what had been a nice feeling to be back in the points.”
“I feel like it was a very well-executed race from the team in difficult circumstances.”
“I’m happy with our performance today, even if we lost our reward.”
What Flavio Briatore said about Franco:
“Franco drove a very good and consistent race, which he needed after a run of bad luck.”
Next race:
F1 heads to Brazil for the São Paulo Grand Prix, from 6-8 November, at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace.
📍 Where will you be for the Brazilian GP?
In the Interlagos grandstands, at home or at a watch party with friends? Tell us where you’ll be cheering Franco on from this weekend and let’s bring the whole FranClub together in São Paulo.
🇧🇷 ¿Vas a estar en Interlagos?
Cuéntanos si estarás en el circuito o siguiendo desde otro lugar de São Paulo
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