After the first two practice sessions on Friday, it’s now time for FP3 in Mexico. Here’s our live coverage of the session. Friday has been productive for the teams, but the third practice hour will provide the final key data needed for qualifying and the race.
What was seen in FP1 and FP2 offers reason for optimism for Ferrari, which seems to have bounced back well with a podium in Texas and strong placements in Friday’s practice. FP1 was a bit chaotic with many substitutes on track, but this does not take away from the excellent work the Scuderia has done at the start of the weekend. In particular, Charles Leclerc posted solid laps, securing first – 1:18.380 – and second place in the two sessions. Lewis Hamilton skipped the first session, giving the seat to Antonio Fuoco – P20 – and when he returned for FP2, he managed a fourth-place finish.
Besides Fuoco, eight other rookies took to the track instead of the regular drivers in FP1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez. With the exception of Sauber, all other teams made the same choice.
Follow our live coverage of FP3 from 19:30 to discover the latest updates before Mexican GP qualifying.
The rest of the grid
Arvid Lindblad replaced Max Verstappen and impressed everyone by securing an excellent sixth place. Overall, Red Bull looked strong on Friday in Mexico, with Verstappen first in FP2 – 1:17.392 – and Yuki Tsunoda in eighth and seventh place in the two sessions.
Other substitutes occupied a range of positions, from 13th downward. Pato O’Ward, replacing Norris, was the highest-placed after Lindblad. Piastri also struggled, taking fourth first and then twelfth. Norris himself seemed somewhat uncomfortable in FP2, managing only fourth.
Frederik Vesti drove George Russell’s car, finishing 14th, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli set the second-best time in FP1. Returning for FP2, Russell brought his car into the top 10 – P6 – while his teammate posted Mercedes’ fastest lap in third. Paul Aron struggled, finishing 15th in his second FP1 of the year with Alpine, while Colapinto impressed with a ninth-place finish. FP2 was different, with P18 and P20 for Colapinto and Pierre Gasly.
Ryo Hirakawa, replacing Oliver Bearman, ended FP1 in 16th. Esteban Ocon, in contrast, posted strong laps and finished seventh. Haas saw changes in FP2 as well, with 13th and 17th for the regular drivers. Ayumu Iwasa followed his compatriot, finishing 17th in Liam Lawson’s car. Red Bull had a quiet start to the weekend, with 11th as their best result.
For Williams, Luke Browning replaced Carlos Sainz – finishing 18th – while Alex Albon was tenth and then 19th. Sainz had secured the team’s best Friday result in FP2, placing ninth. Jak Crawford replaced Lance Stroll, finishing 19th in FP1, while Fernando Alonso took 12th. Aston Martin had an average Friday but recovered in FP2 with eighth and tenth places.
Sauber started the day strongly with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto in third and fifth. However, the Friday session ended less positively, with the Swiss team’s drivers finishing 15th and 16th.
Follow our live coverage of FP3 from 19:30 Central European Time to catch the latest updates before qualifying at the Mexican GP.
