Leclerc sweeps Mexico Friday practice ahead of Norris
Charles Leclerc topped both Friday sessions at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Lando Norris and George Russell followed him in the second session, while Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton stopped with a power problem. Contact between Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson brought a red flag during preparations for qualifying and the race.
Sports··Morning
Leclerc finishes Friday on top
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc led both Friday practice sessions for the Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix. The second session ended with McLaren’s Lando Norris second and Mercedes’ George Russell third. The running formed part of preparations for the Mexican race weekend.[1], [2]
Leclerc recorded 1:17.827, beating Norris by 0.103 seconds and Russell by 0.106 seconds. Kimi Antonelli put the second Mercedes fourth, 0.217 seconds behind. Max Verstappen finished fifth for Red Bull, with a gap of 0.311 seconds to the leading Ferrari.[1]
Contact stops the session
Verstappen and Liam Lawson made contact at Turn 12. Debris scattered across the circuit, and a red flag halted the session while the track was cleared. A separate interruption followed when Lewis Hamilton lost power in his Ferrari near Turn 13. His stopped car prompted a virtual safety car, under which drivers had to reduce speed. Hamilton finished 11th.[1]
Technical problems disrupt more running
Haas driver Esteban Ocon reported trouble with power steering, and team-mate Oliver Bearman briefly stopped on track. Gabriel Bortoleto joined the running late after a technical problem and finished 22nd. Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad and Pierre Gasly took sixth through eighth, followed by Lawson and Oscar Piastri. 10 rookies had driven in opening practice before regular drivers returned for the second session. Qualifying and the Grand Prix were still to come.[1]
