The F1 Mexican Grand Prix weekend kicked off at the high-altitude Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where thin air and dusty asphalt challenged teams right from the start. Friday’s FP1 and FP2 sessions offered a mix of rookie appearances and long-run data gathering, setting the stage for a tight qualifying session. Leclerc and Verstappen topped the charts.
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FP1: A Day for the Rookies
On FP1’s entry list, many new names appeared. In line with F1’s regulations, nine of the ten teams handed their cars to rookie drivers, temporarily benching one of their regular stars. As a result, FP1 felt unusual and more experimental, with teams focused on data gathering rather than outright pace. Lap times improved noticeably throughout the session, falling from the 1:21s into the 1:18s range as grip levels increased on the dusty surface. For many of the young drivers, it was a true learning exercise rather than a performance run.
A special mention goes to Arvid Lindblad, who was the best-performing rookie in FP1 for Red Bull. Considering his limited F1 experience, his pace was impressive and a positive sign of his potential. The fastest time of the FP1 was coming from Leclerc.
FP2: Back to Business for the Stars
In FP2, the regular drivers returned, and the competitive order quickly reset. Verstappen and Leclerc topped the timesheets, with Norris recovering from early issues as most drivers turned their focus to longer runs. With the track evolving and grip improving, teams concentrated on race pace and tyre management for Sunday rather than chasing one-lap performance.
It is worth mentioning that early in FP2, McLaren reported misfire issues for Lando Norris, but he recovered well to finish fourth. Kimi Antonelli also encountered a brief technical issue, though it was quickly resolved. As grip levels improved, lap times shrank by nearly a second compared to the morning, showing how much the surface evolved.
The full results of the free practices according to FIA.com:
