Charles Leclerc topped both Friday practice sessions at the Mexico City Grand Prix, with Lando Norris and George Russell close behind in FP2. Lewis Hamilton’s session ended early with a power-unit problem, and Max Verstappen’s car was damaged in contact with Liam Lawson.
Mexico City, Mexico: Ferrari set the pace at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Friday, and Leclerc set it in both sessions. With the title in play for Kimi Antonelli, who can be crowned on Sunday, the Mercedes driver was second in FP1 and fourth in FP2.
Leclerc sets the tone in FP1
Leclerc led the opening session with a 1m18.128s. Antonelli was second, 0.659s back, and Mercedes reserve Frederik Vesti took third on his rookie appearance. Hamilton was fourth for Ferrari, with Ayumu Iwasa fifth in the Red Bull he was driving in place of Verstappen. Pierre Gasly, Fernando Alonso, Oscar Piastri, Oliver Bearman and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
It was a session of stand-ins. Colton Herta drove Valtteri Bottas’s Cadillac and finished 22nd, while Leonardo Fornaroli drove for Norris at McLaren and Nikola Tsolov made his FP1 debut for Racing Bulls. Bearman’s Haas stopped late in the session with smoke from the rear and needed a power-unit change.
Ferrari stay in front in FP2
Leclerc topped FP2 as well. Norris was 0.103s behind, Russell 0.106s back after missing FP1, and Antonelli fourth, 0.217s off the pace. Verstappen was fifth, 0.311s slower, followed by Isack Hadjar, Lindblad, Gasly, Lawson and Piastri.
Russell said Ferrari looked strongest and that the order could go any way by Q3. Pirelli’s early read was that grip improved through the day, while degradation on the softer compounds was notable enough to point to a one- or two-stop race.
Hamilton stops, Verstappen damaged
The troubles landed on two of the biggest names. Hamilton was 11th, 0.685s from Leclerc, after a power-unit problem forced him to stop early. Verstappen and Lawson also made contact in the stadium section while fighting for the same piece of track, and Verstappen’s car was left with damage.
FP1 top 10 (Mexico City Grand Prix): 1. Leclerc (Ferrari) 1m18.128s; 2. Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.659s; 3. Vesti (Mercedes) +0.733s; 4. Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.738s; 5. Iwasa (Red Bull) +0.985s; 6. Gasly (Alpine) +1.082s; 7. Alonso (Aston Martin) +1.229s; 8. Piastri (McLaren) +1.248s; 9. Bearman (Haas) +1.284s; 10. Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +1.350s.
FP2 top 10: 1. Leclerc (Ferrari); 2. Norris (McLaren) +0.103s; 3. Russell (Mercedes) +0.106s; 4. Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.217s; 5. Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.311s; 6. Hadjar (Red Bull) +0.410s; 7. Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +0.562s; 8. Gasly (Alpine) +0.580s; 9. Lawson (Racing Bulls) +0.628s; 10. Piastri (McLaren) +0.642s.
