LIVE – 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix FP1: Formula 1 returns to the track at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez as Ferrari begins an important weekend with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, while several young drivers prepare to participate in the opening free practice session. Follow the action with live updates, lap times, results and analysis throughout the first hour of running in Mexico.
Welcome to ScuderiaFans.com and our live coverage of Free Practice 1 at the 2026 Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix. The session begins on Friday, 30 October, at 18:30 UTC (12:30 local time in Mexico City) and is scheduled to finish at 19:30 UTC, unless unexpected interruptions affect the running.
2026 Mexico City GP FP1 LIVE: Ferrari begins crucial weekend
For Ferrari, the opening practice session represents an important opportunity to assess the SF-26 at one of the most unusual circuits on the Formula 1 calendar. Following encouraging improvements at the United States Grand Prix, the Maranello team will be looking to understand how its latest developments perform in Mexico’s distinctive conditions.
The circuit’s high altitude creates particular challenges for aerodynamic grip, tyre management and cooling. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has already highlighted the cooling and grip difficulties facing Ferrari in Mexico, making the opening practice session especially valuable for evaluating the car’s behaviour.
Charles Leclerc arrives after consecutive second-place finishes in Singapore and Austin, while Lewis Hamilton will also be aiming to build on the team’s recent progress. The performance of Ferrari’s updated SF-26 during FP1 should provide an early indication of how the team is adapting to the conditions, although the competitive order will become clearer as the weekend progresses.
Several young rookie drivers set to participate in Mexico GP FP1
Friday’s opening session will be particularly interesting because a number of young drivers are expected to take part. Alongside Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, two other young Italians are set to feature: Leonardo Fornaroli in Lando Norris’s McLaren and Gabriele Minì in Franco Colapinto’s Alpine.
They will not be the only inexperienced drivers on track. As frequently happens at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, several teams are expected to use the session to fulfil Formula 1’s requirement for each regular driver to hand over their car to a rookie on at least two occasions during the season.
The additional rookie participation makes FP1 an especially interesting session to follow, with teams balancing their usual practice programmes against opportunities to evaluate emerging talent.
Mexico City GP FP1 start time and live updates
For the complete weekend timetable, including FP2, FP3, qualifying and Sunday’s race, consult our 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix schedule and session start times.
The weekend could also prove historic for Formula 1, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli having an opportunity to mathematically secure the 2026 Drivers’ World Championship in Mexico.
Follow our Mexico City GP FP1 live commentary for minute-by-minute updates, Ferrari developments, lap times, incidents and session results as the first practice hour unfolds.
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