The Formula 1 circus is in full swing at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, where Friday’s opening free practice sessions for the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix offered an intriguing glimpse at what could be a tightly contested weekend.
Leclerc Tops First Practice, Rookies Take Centre Stage
Charles Leclerc set the pace in Free Practice 1 for Ferrari, ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Nico Hulkenberg. However, the session was notably devoid of several drivers. With nine teams running a rookie in FP1, championship contenders Lando Norris and Max Verstappen were absent. Combined with the track’s high altitude and dusty surface, Free Practice 1 was far from fully representative.
Leclerc looked comfortable on a circuit where he has claimed two pole positions, while Oscar Piastri’s early soft tyre runs offered little direct comparison to Norris or Verstappen. The evolving track promised Free Practice 2 would be more revealing of the true pecking order.
Free Practice 2 Kicks Off: Antonelli Faces Early Woes
Second practice began with the usual flurry of activity at the pit lane. Antonelli immediately encountered a mechanical issue and was told to “limp home”. Despite this, the session quickly turned competitive, with Leclerc setting a 1:18.669 to lead Norris and Hamilton. Russell had a minor off-track excursion, while Antonelli returned to the pits for repairs.
Verstappen Emerges: Flow-Vis and Floor Upgrades
Red Bull’s Verstappen became the highlight, testing floor upgrades on his flow-vis-covered RB21. By the 30-minute mark, he posted 1:17.392 to top the session, with Leclerc second and Norris third. Over eight-tenths behind his British teammate, Piastri struggled, finishing P12, highlighting the work he must do ahead of qualifying.
The session revealed more about the varied tyre strategies teams were testing. Aston Martin experimented with softs, while Albon ran the C5 compound for the first time this weekend. The medium tyre dominated longer runs, though Verstappen and Russell struggled with grip as track temperatures fell. Tyre management will likely be key on Sunday.
Rookie Antonelli Impresses Despite Setbacks
Despite early mechanical issues, Antonelli impressed, slotting third in FP2 on his first flying lap, just 0.021s shy of Leclerc. Traffic became a factor late in the session on the short circuit, which will remain a challenge during qualifying.
As the weekend progresses, Verstappen and Red Bull appear confident, particularly with their upgraded floor. Friday’s practice sessions set the scene for an intense battle this weekend. The Italian Stallion team continues to show strong one-lap pace through Leclerc. But only qualifying will show if that’s enough in a race, where track positions are crucial.