Leclerc fastest as rookies dominate first practice in Mexico

In a first practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where nine teams ran rookie drivers, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the tone.

Leclerc finished second behind Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who is currently in third place, was McLaren’s championship leader, with Nico Hulkenberg in third place.

The first session was attended by neither of Piastri’s title rivals, Lando Norris’ teammate Lando Norris or Max Verstappen from Red Bull.

With five races left, Piastri leads Norris by 14 points, while Verstappen, who has won three races and finished in second place, is 40 points behind.

In contrast to the 13th-fastest British junior Arvid Lindblad who drove Verstappen’s car, Norris was replaced by Mexican Indycar driver Pato O’Ward.

The session was six seconds and two places ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, a regular Red Bull racer, in terms of speed, and Lindblad, who is scheduled to compete for Racing Bulls next season.

Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber was fifth fastest, Esteban Ocon of Haas was seventh.

Franco Colapinto of Alpine and Alex Albon of Williams finished in the top 10 after Tsunoda in eighth place.

At Turn 12, which brings the drivers into the Foro Sol baseball stadium, where the majority of the fans are located, both Lindblad and Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar had spins.

And Piastri was unharmed when she broke through the Esses late in the session.