F1 – FERRARI’S Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in an eventful opening practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, while Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli moved a step closer to securing his maiden Formula 1 world championship.
Leclerc delivered the fastest lap of the session, finishing 0.659 seconds clear of Antonelli, who enters the weekend on the verge of making history. The Italian teenager needs only a ninth-place finish in tomorrow’s race to guarantee the drivers’ championship, irrespective of the results of his rivals.
Antonelli’s only remaining theoretical challengers are Mercedes team-mate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.
Russell must win the race to keep his title hopes alive, while a victory for Hamilton could also delay Antonelli’s coronation.
In the event of a Russell victory, ninth place would be sufficient for Antonelli, while 10th would secure the title if Hamilton takes the chequered flag first.
Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti recorded the third-fastest time while deputising for Russell, with Hamilton finishing fourth as teams took advantage of the opening session to fulfil their mandatory rookie-driver running requirements.
Ten of the 10 teams used the session to give young drivers valuable Formula 1 experience, with Ferrari the only outfit to field both of its regular race drivers. The Mexico City circuit is a popular venue for such programmes because its opening practice session traditionally offers limited representative data, owing to the dusty and relatively dirty track surface.
Japanese driver Ayumu Iwasa, standing in for reigning champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull, impressed with the fifth-fastest time. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly followed in sixth, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Haas driver Oliver Bearman and Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
There was disappointment for British youngster Freddie Slater, whose first appearance in a Grand Prix weekend with Audi was disrupted by reliability problems. Technical issues restricted him to just 14 laps, approximately half the usual running distance for a practice session.
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