Leclerc Leads Opening Practice as Rookies Star in Mexico City

Charles Leclerc set the pace in opening practice for the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix, comfortably outpacing Kimi Antonelli in a session that featured 10 rookie drivers across the grid.

The Ferrari driver recorded a time of 1m18.128s, six-tenths faster than the championship leader, while Mercedes junior Frederik Vesti claimed third place with a 1m18.861s. All teams except Ferrari fielded young drivers for FP1, taking advantage of the session occurring under conditions that don’t fully represent Saturday and Sunday’s challenges.

Starting nearly two hours earlier than qualifying and the race respectively, and given the track’s significant evolution throughout the weekend as a rarely-used circuit, Mexico provides an ideal setting for such developmental sessions. Track conditions improved rapidly as the morning progressed, with lap times consistently dropping.

Leclerc initially set the benchmark at 1m21.965s before hard-tire runners like Antonelli closed the gap significantly. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver improved by over a second across consecutive runs, posting a 1m18.787s before Leclerc responded with a 1m19.197s, extending his advantage to 0.303s.

Both front-runners dominated the early phases despite technical issues affecting Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull service. Lewis Hamilton briefly joined the leading duo, slotting into third with a 1m19.869s after 25 minutes. Ferrari’s Leclerc then extended his margin once more with a 1m19.137s before the soft tire window opened midway through the hour-long session.

During the soft tire phase, Leclerc moved nearly one second clear of his own previous best, ultimately sealing the fastest time at 1m18.128s. Antonelli followed suit but struggled slightly, registering a 1m18.787s – 0.659s adrift of Leclerc.

Drivers outside the frontrunning group faced challenges managing grip levels in these evolving track conditions. Technical setbacks hampered Audi reserve Freddie Slater, while McLaren’s Leonardo Fornaroli and Oscar Piastri both ran wide in sector one.

Piastri, returning to the scene where he conceded his championship lead the previous season, found little rhythm in his MCL40, finishing 1.248s behind the pace on his soft tire run. Vesti capitalized on the opportunity, securing third place just 0.080s behind Antonelli.

Midway through the session, Jak Crawford triggered a brief virtual safety car period after stopping at Turn 1 in Lance Stil’s Aston Martin. Drivers reverted to harder compounds for the closing ten minutes.

Leclerc’s 1m18.128s remained unchallenged, beating Antonelli by 0.659s and Vesti by 0.733s. Hamilton took fourth position, 0.738s off the lead. In fifth, Red Bull substitute Ayumu Iwasa posted a 1m19.113s using medium tires, ahead of sixth-placed Pierre Gasly on soft rubber.

Completing the top ten were Fernando Alonso (+1.229s), Piastri (+1.248s), Oliver Bearman (+1.284s) and Arvid Lindblad (+1.350s).

Leonardo Fornaroli, McLaren

Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

Looking ahead, teams will assess data gathered during this experimental session as they prepare for qualifying and Sunday’s championship-deciding races under more representative circumstances.

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