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Lando Norris delivered a statement of intent in the final practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix, topping the timesheets with a commanding lap that left his rivals scrambling for answers. The McLaren driver clocked a 1:16.633 on soft tyres, finishing 0.345s clear of Lewis Hamilton and half a second ahead of George Russell, in what is shaping up to be one of the tightest qualifying battles of the season.
The session began under warm, dry conditions at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, with track temperatures hovering around 48°C. Early running was dominated by medium-tyre runs, as teams sought to fine-tune their qualifying and race setups. Grip remained at a premium due to the high-altitude venue’s slippery surface, leading to multiple lock-ups and off-track excursions.
Carlos Sainz initially set the pace on softs, but the order quickly shuffled as the big names emerged. Kimi Antonelli briefly went fastest, before Verstappen’s middle-sector pace looked set to secure P1 — only for the Dutchman to lose time in the final stadium section. Hamilton then surged to the top, but Norris responded with a lap featuring purple sectors across the board, reclaiming P1 in emphatic style.
Norris’ lap was not just quick — it was consistent across all sectors. He topped the sector rankings in all three splits, suggesting the MCL39 is well-balanced and hooked up for both low-speed and high-speed sections. Piastri’s deficit hints at either setup divergence or lingering confidence issues after Friday’s struggles.
Hamilton’s Ferrari looked planted, particularly in sector one where he was fastest overall. Leclerc’s pace was solid but marginally behind, indicating Ferrari could be a genuine pole threat if they can extract that final tenth.
Russell and Antonelli both featured near the top, with Russell fastest through the speed trap and Antonelli excelling in the technical final sector. Mercedes appear to have a car that’s competitive over a single lap, though perhaps lacking the outright pace of McLaren.
Verstappen’s inability to match his FP2 benchmark raises questions about overnight changes. Tsunoda’s presence in the top 10 is encouraging, but the RB21’s balance in the stadium section remains a weakness.
With six drivers from four teams separated by just over a tenth behind Norris and Hamilton, qualifying is set to be a thriller. Track evolution will be significant, and traffic management in the stadium section could decide who makes Q3. Soft tyres appear capable of delivering two push laps, which could open strategic options in the early segments.
McLaren hold the momentum, but Ferrari and Mercedes are close enough to pounce. Verstappen will need to find answers quickly if he’s to challenge for pole and keep his title hopes alive.
Qualifying starts at 15:00 local time — and based on FP3, the fight for pole in Mexico City could be one of the most intense of the season. Norris has thrown down the gauntlet; now it’s up to the rest to respond.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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