Charles Leclerc was comfortably fastest in opening practice for the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix, beating runner-up Kimi Antonelli in a session 10 rookies took part in. The Ferrari driver set a 1m18.128s that was six tenths faster than Formula 1’s champion-elect, whose Mercedes stablemate Frederik Vesti completed the top three with a 1m18.861s.
Vesti – in for George Russell – was one of 10 rookies contesting FP1 with all teams bar Ferrari fielding a youngster, as Mexico is a good place to do so due to the session happening in unrepresentative conditions. Not only does it start at least 90 minutes before qualifying and the race do on Saturday and Sunday respectively, but the track also evolves aplenty during the weekend as it is rarely used throughout the year.
Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, going 0.738s off Leclerc’s pace. Fifth went to Max Verstappen’s Red Bull substitute Ayumu Iwasa, ahead of sixth-placed Pierre Gasly. Drivers outside the top three struggled in low-grip conditions: technical problems plagued Audi stand-in Freddie Slater, while McLaren pair Leonardo Fornaroli and Oscar Piastri went off in sector one. Jak Crawford caused a brief virtual safety car after stopping at Turn 1 in Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin.
Source: Autosport F1 News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing