FIA stewards issue new rules to prevent Mexico Grand Prix chaos
FIA stewards introduced new driving standards for the Mexico Grand Prix to prevent drivers from gaining advantages by cutting corners. The rules require drivers who leave the track at Turns 1 to 3 or Turns 4 to 6 to yield positions to avoid penalties during the opening lap.
The stewards issue new rules
The FIA stewards issued a directive to all drivers and teams to prevent a repeat of the opening lap chaos seen during the 2025 Mexico Grand Prix. Last year, a fifth of the grid cut the track at Turn 1, including Kimi Antonelli, Carlos Sainz, and Liam Lawson. During that race, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton went four-wide into Turn 1. Both Verstappen and Leclerc went off the grass in that opening complex. Leclerc initially led but lifted into the Turn 4 left-hander to allow Norris ahead. George Russell expressed frustration after the 2025 race, saying, "I just struggle to understand how three guys can just cut the corner and maintain their position." He also noted that when Max Verstappen went off the track at Turn 4 and rejoined, he believed it should have been penalised. Russell’s previous complaints focused on drivers receiving no punishment for mistakes that allowed them to maintain positions.
The stewards now apply a specific clarification of the Driving Standards Guidelines for this Sunday. On Lap 1 and the first lap after any Resumption, all cars in Turns 1 to 3 and Turns 4 to 6 will, by default, be considered as both attacking and defending. Any car leaving the track in these areas and maintaining a position to a car or cars within close proximity behind may be considered as gaining a lasting advantage. The stewards will determine if a following car was close enough for the incident to fall under this instruction. Drivers have strict deadlines to surrender positions to avoid penalties. Those leaving the track between Turns 1 and 3 must yield the relevant position by Turn 4. Drivers leaving the circuit between Turns 4 and 6 must yield the position by Turn 12.
Grid specifics and track dynamics
Lewis Hamilton starts the 2026 Mexico Grand Prix from pole position after securing his 105th career pole. He starts on the front row alongside George Russell. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen start from the second row and could use slipstreams to challenge for the lead. Leclerc made a mistake on his second lap in Q3, which allowed Hamilton to take the top spot. The championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, starts from fourth place in the Mercedes. The longest run into a first corner this year makes it difficult for the polesitter to keep rivals behind.
| Driver | Starting Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis Hamilton | 1 | Mercedes |
| George Russell | 2 | Mercedes |
| Charles Leclerc | 3 | Ferrari |
| Kimi Antonelli | 4 | Mercedes |
| Max Verstappen | 5 | Red Bull |
Enforcement of track limits
The stewards aim to stop drivers from using the run-off area to avoid being disadvantaged. Last year, multiple drivers cut the run-off between Turns 1 and 3 at the start, and disputes continued regarding whether the correct order had been re-established after drivers returned positions. The run-off on the outside of Turn 4 also caused contention in previous races at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The new rules mean a driver can be punished if they avoid losing a position by cutting a corner.
The FIA clarified that drivers must relinquish any positions they gain by going off. This instruction applies to the opening lap and the first lap after any safety car or red flag resumption. The stewards target the Turn 1 to 3 complex and the Turn 4 to 6 sequence because these areas serve as regular flashpoints for off-track excursions. The new rejoin thresholds aim to remove ambiguity for the Sunday race. This regulation targets the specific way drivers have previously used the grass to maintain proximity to cars behind.
