Leclerc leads hot Mexico GP FP1 as 9 rookies shine

Charles Leclerc set the pace in a hot and dusty opening practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix, clocking a 1:18.380 to lead Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by just 0.107s, with Nico Hulkenberg a strong third for Kick Sauber. The hour-long FP1 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez was busy, with nine rookie drivers taking over from regular race seats, creating traffic and varied run plans across the field.

FP1 Recap: Ferrari on Top, Rookies in the Spotlight

Track temperatures soared to 48°C despite a mild 23°C air temperature, making tyre management tricky. The high-altitude venue’s thin air also meant cooling packages were a key focus, with teams running different configurations to protect brakes, tyres, and power units.

Leclerc’s best lap came on the soft C5 compound midway through the session, building on Ferrari’s strong record in Mexico — Sainz won here last year, with Leclerc third. Antonelli impressed with the highest lap count (33) and competitive pace, while Hulkenberg’s soft-tyre run secured P3, just 0.380s off the lead.

Oscar Piastri was fourth, setting his time earlier than most on softs, followed by Gabriel Bortoleto in P5 and Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad in P6. Esteban Ocon, Yuki Tsunoda, Franco Colapinto, and Alexander Albon rounded out the top ten.

Top 10 – FP1 Classification

1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:18.380
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.107
3. Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) – +0.380
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.404
5. Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) – +0.536
6. Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull Racing) – +0.617
7. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – +0.658
8. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing) – +0.710
9. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – +0.951
10. Alexander Albon (Williams) – +1.004

Rookie Watch: Making the Most of Limited Time

With Norris, Verstappen, Hamilton, and Russell sitting out FP1, the spotlight was firmly on the Friday drivers. Standout performances included Lindblad’s P6 despite running older soft tyres, and Frederik Vesti’s P11 as the quickest rookie for Mercedes. Pato O’Ward delighted home fans with P13 for McLaren, while Paul Aron (P15) and Ryo Hirakawa (P16) gathered valuable mileage.

The challenge for rookies was balancing the need to impress with the risk of damaging cars they don’t usually drive. Grip was at a premium early on, with several small slides — Piastri notably catching a big moment on his out-lap.

Tyre Strategies and Track Evolution

Pirelli’s non-sequential choice of C2 (hard), C4 (medium), and C5 (soft) compounds created mixed strategies. Some teams saved softs for FP2, when track temperatures will be closer to qualifying conditions. Others, like Hulkenberg and Leclerc, opted for early soft runs to bank lap times before the track evolved further.

Sector analysis showed:

• Leclerc fastest in sector three and top speed at 357 km/h.
• Antonelli quickest in sector one, underlining Mercedes’ strong low-speed traction.
• Hulkenberg leading sector two, highlighting Kick Sauber’s efficiency in the middle part of the lap.

Championship Context

With just four races remaining after Mexico, the title fight is finely poised:

• Oscar Piastri leads by 14 points over Lando Norris.
• Max Verstappen sits 40 points back, buoyed by three wins in the last four races.

Ferrari and Mercedes’ pace in FP1 suggests the championship contenders may face extra pressure from rivals this weekend. Verstappen’s RB21 features floor modifications, which will be closely monitored in FP2.

What to Expect in FP2

FP2 will be the first truly representative session ahead of qualifying, with all full-time drivers back in action. Cooler track temperatures and more rubbered-in conditions should see lap times tumble. The battle between Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen will finally take shape, while Ferrari and Mercedes aim to confirm their early speed.