LIVE – 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix FP2: Formula 1 returns to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for the second free practice session of the weekend, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton looking to build on Ferrari’s encouraging start in Mexico. The session begins at 23:00 CET on Friday, 30 October, and will run for one hour, finishing at midnight.
FP2 is expected to provide a much clearer indication of the competitive order after an opening practice session dominated by the presence of numerous rookie drivers. With several regular competitors returning to their cars, teams will begin focusing more seriously on qualifying simulations and, crucially, longer runs with heavier fuel loads to assess their race pace.
2026 Mexico GP FP2 LIVE: Ferrari returns to action after Charles Leclerc tops FP1
Welcome to ScuderiaFans.com and our live coverage of the second free practice session for the 2026 Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix. We will follow the action throughout the hour, bringing you updates on Ferrari, lap times, track developments and the evolving competitive order.
After the opening session allowed teams to familiarise themselves with the challenges of the Mexican circuit, FP2 should offer more representative information about their performance. The return of several regular drivers will also make comparisons more meaningful than they were during the rookie-heavy opening practice.
Particular attention will be paid to qualifying simulations and long runs with higher fuel loads. These programmes should provide the first more substantial indications of how the cars compare over a single flying lap and across longer sequences, although different tyre choices and fuel loads can still influence the times.
Charles Leclerc fastest in Mexico GP FP1 as Lewis Hamilton finishes fourth
Charles Leclerc set the pace in the first free practice session, immediately demonstrating impressive speed and looking comfortable around the demanding Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The Ferrari driver finished more than six tenths of a second ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who was followed closely by Mercedes rookie Frederik Vesti.
Lewis Hamilton completed the top four in the second Ferrari, giving the Maranello team an encouraging start to the weekend. The complete Mexico GP FP1 results and classification provide the full picture of the opening session, including the numerous substitute drivers who participated.
Among the regular drivers who did not complete any laps in FP1 were Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and George Russell. Their return in second practice means there is considerable scope for the initial order to change, making it premature to draw firm conclusions from the opening results.
Why Mexico GP FP2 will be crucial for Ferrari and its rivals
For Ferrari, FP2 represents another opportunity to evaluate the SF-26 after its promising opening performance. The team will be looking for more information about its competitiveness under the unusual conditions at Mexico City, where altitude, cooling requirements and grip levels create additional challenges.
The earlier session already provided encouraging indications of Ferrari’s pace with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, but the more representative running expected in FP2 should help establish whether that speed can be maintained as the weekend progresses.
Longer runs will be especially interesting as teams begin comparing tyre behaviour and consistency over multiple laps. Readers can also explore Formula 1 practice and long-run performance data to examine how drivers and teams perform during the practice sessions.
Mexico GP FP2 start time and live updates
The second free practice session begins at 23:00 Central European Time on Friday, 30 October 2026, and is scheduled to conclude at 00:00 CET on Saturday, 31 October. The session will give teams another hour to refine their preparations before the final practice session and qualifying.
For the complete timetable, including FP3, qualifying and Sunday’s race, consult the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix schedule and session start times.
Follow our live Mexico GP FP2 coverage for minute-by-minute developments, Ferrari updates, lap times and results as Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the field continue their preparations for the Mexican Grand Prix.
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