MEXICO CITY — Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the pace in both practice sessions Friday at the Mexico City Grand Prix, but the weekend’s central storyline belongs to a 20-year-old Italian on the verge of Formula One history.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, recovering from a viral illness that kept him from Thursday’s media duties, posted the second-fastest time in the opening session and fourth in the afternoon at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. He now stands 123 points clear of teammate George Russell and needs just two more — a ninth-place finish — to secure the championship with four rounds remaining.
Leclerc Leads the Way
Leclerc, who also topped both Friday sessions in Texas last week before Antonelli took the victory, delivered a best lap of 1:17.827 in the second session, where the field closed up considerably. He had led the first session by 0.659 seconds with a 1:18.128.
“Overall, our performance looks quite all right, but we still need to work on some of our limiting factors,” Leclerc said. “It was quite tricky on track today, as the surface was slippery.”
McLaren’s reigning world champion Lando Norris, last year’s winner in Mexico, was second in the later session, 0.103 seconds adrift, with Russell third.
Hamilton and Verstappen Halted
Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton, a two-time Mexico winner, stopped on track and triggered a virtual safety car with half an hour remaining. “I lost all power,” the seven-time champion reported.
Red flags flew earlier when Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, a five-time winner in Mexico, made contact with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, his former teammate, leaving debris from the Dutchman’s car on the circuit with 47 minutes to go.
“He literally just drove into me. Every weekend,” Lawson said over the radio.
Verstappen fired back at the New Zealander, whose seat for next season has yet to be confirmed. “At the end of the day, it is not going to change my weekend, but if I were him I would act a little smarter,” he said. “And when you’re fighting for your seat, it’s not very smart behaviour.”
Young Drivers Take the Spotlight
The opening session began without 10 race regulars, as every team except Ferrari handed track time to junior drivers.
- Mercedes reserve Fred Vesti, deputising for Russell, was third fastest, 0.733 seconds off Leclerc.
- Japanese driver Ayumu Iwasa, in Verstappen’s car, led the non-regulars in fifth.
- Bulgarian F2 title contender Nikola Tsolov, driving for Lawson, finished 12th despite reporting numbness in his right leg.
- British 18-year-old Freddie Slater made a troubled debut when Audi mechanics left a cooling fan attached to his car, but still completed 14 laps.
- Reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, in Norris’ McLaren, was 17th after a tyre lock-up sent him skidding over the grass.
- American Colton Herta was slowest in Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac but logged 30 laps toward his super licence.
Tsolov’s radio message raised immediate concern: “Running out of blood on my right leg. I cannot feel my right leg. I think the seat is compressing my leg and my blood stopped.” Team principal Alan Permane nonetheless described it as a “textbook first session,” praising the F2 driver for keeping the car intact and offering solid feedback.
Aston Martin reserve Jak Crawford also stopped on track with a suspected power unit issue.
Attention now turns to Saturday’s qualifying, where Antonelli can move within touching distance of a record-breaking crown — and Leclerc will attempt to convert his practice speed into a first Mexico victory.
