F1 Embraces Día de Muertos as Mexico City Grand Prix Falls on Day of the Dead

The 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix falls on 1 November, landing squarely on Día de Muertos, and Formula 1 has spent the past decade folding Mexico's most important cultural celebration into its annual visit to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. What began as a few painted faces in the paddock now shapes helmets, hospitality and race-weekend programming.

Why it matters:

F1 races in more than 20 countries, and few weekends lean as heavily on local culture as Mexico City. Día de Muertos, recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, is a family occasion for remembering the dead through food, flowers and offerings — not a Halloween-style party. Getting that distinction right matters for a sport that has been accused of hollow local gestures.

The details:

• Helmets: Carlos Sainz ran a skull-and-chilli design in 2024 and won for Ferrari; Pierre Gasly joined in that year. Sergio Perez went furthest, with a 2022 La Catrina lid featuring papel picado, then a 2023 design by Mexican artist Karla Lozano.
• Paddock: Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo arrived in 2016 under elaborate calavera face paint, while Mercedes decorated its hospitality unit. In 2024, Catrina performers greeted drivers with cempasuchil marigolds; Charles Leclerc walked in wearing charro-style dress.
• Food: Oscar Piastri made guacamole in 2024 and Yuki Tsunoda has taken a turn in the kitchen. Organisers will serve pan de muerto, including filled regional versions, at the circuit this year.
• The ofrenda: An altar de muertos will stand in the circuit's Blue Zone, dedicated to members of the motorsport community who have passed away.

What's next:

The race runs on 1 November, the day traditionally reserved for remembering children who have died, with 2 November dedicated to adults. The altar stays on display through the weekend, a quieter counterpoint to the costumes and celebrations around it.