Leclerc fastest in Mexico City Grand Prix first practice

Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in first practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix, leading Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by 0.659 seconds. Antonelli could secure his first world title on Sunday, with ninth place enough in most circumstances, making the session a preview of a potentially decisive race weekend.

Mercedes reserve Frederik Vesti was third in George Russell’s car, ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Ten teams used the session for mandatory rookie running, including Red Bull’s Ayumu Iwasa, who was fifth; Audi rookie Freddie Slater managed only 14 laps because of reliability problems and finished 19th. Cadillac prospect Colton Herta was 22nd, and the FIA said he had completed enough mileage to reach the 40-point superlicence threshold.