On Friday, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari delivered his best showing in the opening free practice session at the Mexican Grand Prix. Taking place at the Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, the Ferrari driver clocked a best lap of 1:20.707 in his early run, signaling strong pace as the weekend began.
His teammate, Charles Leclerc, followed close behind with a lap time around 1:20.753, placing him just off the pace set by Sainz and highlighting Ferrari’s competitive form in practice at the Autodrome.
Red Bull riders showed solid speed too, with Sergio Perez of Mexico enjoying a strong home session to slot into third. He narrowly beat his fellow Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who ended the session in fourth. The top five was completed by British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.
Practice concluded slightly ahead of schedule after AlphaTauri’s Liam Lawson incurred a red flag incident. Fernando Alonso, the Spaniard racing for Alpine, finished sixth amid the early session trading blows with the rest of the field.
Verstappen’s rapid adaptation has drawn attention, underscoring a remarkable comeback narrative for the championship leader. A social media post from DAZN Spain highlighted the moment, capturing the excitement of the Mexican GP weekend as the action looked set to continue with two more practice sessions before qualifying and the race on Sunday.
The baja and fast turns of the Autodrome were a talking point for team principals and fans alike as they observed the circuit layout, the car setups, and the delicate balance between downforce and traction that teams chase here in Mexico City.
Earlier in the day, a camera shot from the pit lane showcased the intense atmosphere in Mexico, with commentators noting how the track presents a demanding challenge for drivers and engineers alike. The suspension tuning and tire management required to extract performance from the cars are critical on this high-altitude course, where engine power and brake performance must be optimized to handle the unique elevation and cornering profile.
Timeline of the first free practice sessions for the Mexican GP:
1. Carlos Sainz (ESP Ferrari) 1:20.707
2. Charles Leclerc (MON Ferrari) 1:20.753
3. Sergio Perez (MEX Red Bull) 1:20.827
4. Max Verstappen (NED Red Bull) 1:20.827
5. Lewis Hamilton (GBR Mercedes) 1:20.849
6. Fernando Alonso (ESP Alpine) 1:20.899
7. Valtteri Bottas (FIN Alfa Romeo) 1:21.083
8. Lando Norris (GBR McLaren) 1:21.120
9. Pierre Gasly (FRA AlphaTauri) 1:21.310
10. Sebastian Vettel (GER Aston Martin) 1:21.525
11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS McLaren) 1:21.762
12. Guanyu Zhou (CHN Alpha Romeo) 1:21.820
13. Lance Stroll (CAN Aston Martin) 1:21.865
14. Mick Schumacher (GER Haas) 1:21.952
15. Nicholas Latifi (CAN Williams) 1:22.912
16. Liam Lawson (NZL Alphatauri) 1:23.881
17. Logan Sargeant (US Williams) 1:24.246
18. Nyck de Vries (NED Mercedes) 1:24.582
19. Jack Doohan (AUS Alpine) 1:24.615
20. Pietro Fittipaldi (USA Haas) 1:26.766