Max Verstappen Sets the Pace in Mexico City Grand Prix Practice

The atmosphere at the Mexico City Grand Prix crackled with anticipation as the full lineup of Formula 1 drivers returned for the second free practice session (FP2). After a morning dominated by rookies in FP1, the established stars took to the warm, dry track, and predictably, Max Verstappen quickly established himself as the man to beat. The Dutchman topped the session with an impressive lap time of 1m 17.392s, signaling Red Bull’s intent for the weekend.

Red Bull Dominance Against Ferrari and Mercedes

The session began with all 20 cars immediately heading out, mostly on medium tyres. Early pace was set by Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari, who clocked a 1m 18.353s, a time many rivals struggled to match initially. However, as the session progressed and teams bolted on the faster soft tyres for flying laps, Max Verstappen delivered the crucial blow, beating Leclerc’s time by 0.153s.

The final timesheets reflected a strong showing from three different constructors: Max Verstappen’s Red Bull at the top, followed closely by Leclerc in P2, and the surprise presence of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who navigated early car issues to claim P3. The highly competitive top three sets the stage for a thrilling qualifying battle.

The Mercedes Drama and Rookie Antonelli’s Resilience

The start of FP2 was complicated for Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who, having sat out the morning session, immediately reported a technical issue on his W16. Despite being instructed to “limp home,” the Italian rookie showed resilience, returning to the track after a spell in the garage for the team to work on his car.

Antonelli’s determined return paid off handsomely. Working on a slightly different run plan to his teammate George Russell, he managed to put in a blistering lap on the soft tyres to slot into third place, showcasing his speed and adaptability despite the disrupted running. His teammate, Russell, finished in P6, having had his own moment off track early in the session.

Midfield Battles and Tyre Struggles

The highly technical and challenging Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit saw numerous drivers grapple with tire degradation and grip issues. Even the pace-setter, Max Verstappen, radioed in during a race simulation run on the medium tyres, reporting a struggle for grip: “I have no grip – it is like driving on ice.” Russell voiced similar struggles with the rear tyres of his Mercedes.

The midfield was tightly packed, with Lando Norris leading the McLaren charge in P4, followed by Lewis Hamilton in P5. Yuki Tsunoda, Fernando Alonso, and Carlos Sainz all managed to outperform the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri, who ended the session down in P12 and will be looking for a significant bounce-back in the following sessions. Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10 for Aston Martin. The final minutes were typically busy, with drivers encountering traffic and Antonelli locking up behind Liam Lawson, underscoring the tight margins at play.

Max Verstappen’s early soft-tyre run proved enough to secure the top spot, allowing him to focus on race simulation later in the session. As teams pore over the data, the focus shifts to Saturday’s FP3 at 11:30 local time, followed by what promises to be a dramatic Qualifying session at 15:00.

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