Leclerc fastest in Mexico City Grand Prix first practice
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc goes fastest in the first practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Key points
- Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in first practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
- Kimi Antonelli can clinch his first world title with a ninth-place finish on Sunday.
- Only wins by George Russell or Lewis Hamilton could theoretically deny Antonelli the championship.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fastest in first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, finishing 0.659 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli is positioned to secure his first world title, with a ninth-place finish enough to make him champion regardless of other results.
What Antonelli needs
Only a win by his Mercedes team-mate George Russell or Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton could theoretically prevent Antonelli from taking the title on Sunday. Even in that case, Antonelli would still be champion with ninth place if Russell wins and 10th if Hamilton does.
Rookie drivers in action
Mercedes were among 10 teams using the session for one of their mandatory rookie runs, and only Ferrari had both race drivers in their cars. Mercedes reserve Frederik Vesti, driving Russell's car, was third quickest ahead of Hamilton, while Ayumu Iwasa, in for Max Verstappen at Red Bull, was fifth.
Freddie Slater's first grand prix weekend outing for Audi was limited to 14 laps by reliability problems, though he set the 19th fastest time. Colton Herta, whom Cadillac are considering promoting to F1 next year in place of Valtteri Bottas, was 22nd; the team believe he has now done enough miles to secure the 40 points needed for the superlicence required to race in F1.
