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Formula 1 championship leader Oscar Piastri has finished fifth fastest in the final practice session before qualifying in Mexico City, almost six-tenths off his teammate Lando Norris. Norris topped the timing sheets at the end of the session with a blistering time of one minute 16.633, more than three-tenths faster than second-quickest Lewis Hamilton. Piastri leads Norris by 14 points in the drivers' championship, but has been slower than his teammate in each practice session they have both participated in. Despite Norris missing the first practice session on Saturday morning, AEDT, with a rookie driving in his place, the Brit has been much quicker than his Australian teammate since getting behind the wheel. Piastri was able to get in a solid lap towards the end of practice on Sunday morning, AEDT, to move him into the top five ahead of qualifying. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, the other driver in the title fight, was sixth fastest, one-hundredth of a second behind Piastri. Qualifying for the F1 Mexico City Grand Prix will be begin at 8am, AEDT. When does the F1 Mexico City Grand Prix begin? In Australia, the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix will be held on Monday, October 27. Here is when the race will begin in each of Australia's states and territories: 7am AEDT: NSW, ACT, Vic, Tas6:30am ACDT: South Australia6am AEST: Queensland5:30am ACST: Northern Territory4am AWST: Western Australia How can I watch the F1 Mexico City Grand Prix? Fox Sports and its streaming platform Kayo will be broadcasting the Mexico City Grand Prix. Those watching on Foxtel can watch the race on Fox Sports, channel 506. You can also follow all the action with the ABC Sport live blog, from pre-race drama to the post-race synopsis. What do I need to know about the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez? The Mexico City Grand Prix is unlike any other. The colour and passion in the crowd is unmatched anywhere in the world. And the location is high … very high. Few images in F1 are better than when the drivers weave their way through an old baseball stadium, with the stands packed with fans. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is more than 2,000 metres above sea level, providing a unique challenge for teams as the reduced air density at high altitude affects aerodynamic performance and means engines can overheat more quickly. Turn one is the best overtaking spot on the track, at the end of a long straight, which is also a DRS zone. Out of first corner, there is a pair of sharp turns before drivers are on another straight down to turn four, the next best overtaking opportunity. The turn six hairpin can provide an opportunity for drivers to overtake if the driver in front runs wide, while the sharp right-hander at turn 12 is a final true overtaking spot on the lap. Fast facts about the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez First race: 1963Number of laps: 71Lap distance: 4.304kmRace distance: 305.584kmFastest lap in grand prix: 1:17.774 — Valtteri Bottas (2021)
