Leclerc practice double sets Ferrari benchmark
Leclerc practice double at the Mexico City Grand Prix gave Ferrari the top Friday time, but Lewis Hamilton’s technical failure cut short his team-mate’s session. Charles Leclerc set a 1:17.827s benchmark to finish just over a tenth clear of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ George Russell.
Norris and Russell were among 10 drivers who had sat out the opening session to make way for rookie drivers. Kimi Antonelli, who only needs to finish ninth in Sunday’s race to become Formula 1’s youngest-ever world champion, was a tenth down on his Mercedes team-mate Russell in fourth.
Hamilton had been on course to go fastest as the session approached its midway point before suffering what appeared to be an engine issue in the final sector of his push lap. He completed the lap but was swiftly told by his engineer to pull over on track, ending his session early and denying him race-simulation information his rivals gathered.
Max Verstappen, another driver to have sat out first practice, was three tenths off the pace in fifth, with team-mate Isack Hadjar slotting in behind him.
Verstappen was involved in a bizarre collision with former team-mate Liam Lawson early in the session as the four-time world champion attempted to overtake the Racing Bulls driver. Lawson defended and retained track position, and the battle continued for several more corners before contact left debris on track and caused a red flag.
The pair will have to explain themselves to their teams, who are both part of the Red Bull family, and to the stewards, who called them in after the session.
Qualifying is scheduled for 9pm on Saturday and the race for 8pm on Sunday, live on Sky Sports F1.
This report is based on the original coverage from skysports.com.
