Leclerc sets fastest time

Charles Leclerc topped the first free practice session of the Mexican Grand Prix with a time of 1'18''128 at the Hermanos Rodríguez circuit. The Ferrari driver outperformed Kimi Antonelli, who was making his Formula 1 debut in the session, by nearly 659 milliseconds.

Young drivers in action

Mercedes and Red Bull fielded their reserve drivers in the session. Fred Vesti, replacing George Russell for Mercedes, secured third place with a time of 733 milliseconds. Lewis Hamilton, driving the second Ferrari, finished fourth, ahead of Ayumu Iwasa, who was substituting for Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

Technical issues disrupt session

Several drivers faced mechanical and procedural challenges. Isack Hadjar of Red Bull reported a power unit failure during his first hour. Oscar Piastri went off the track early, and Leonardo Fornaroli had a significant slide in the fast corners while replacing Lando Norris at McLaren.

Incidents and delays

The session was briefly paused under virtual safety car conditions after Aston Martin's Jak Crawford became immobilized. Freddie Slater from Audi lost valuable running time when he left the garage with a fan still attached to his car before returning to the track.

Herta advances toward F1

Colton Herta took a major step toward earning his FIA Super License by completing 100 kilometers in the Cadillac of Valtteri Bottas. This achievement secured the final point he needed for the license, despite a challenging season in Formula 2. His participation in free practice was a crucial step toward a potential Formula 1 career.

Ferrari's strong showing

Ferrari's dominant performance in the session indicates a positive outlook for the team in Mexico. However, it remains uncertain if Leclerc can maintain his lead during qualifying when Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren return to their regular drivers.