Leclerc fastest in Mexico City Grand Prix first practice

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, outpacing Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli by 0.659 seconds. A victory for Antonelli could secure the championship for him, provided no other drivers claim ninth or 10th place. If either George Russell or Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton wins, Antonelli would still need ninth place, or 10th if Hamilton triumphs.

Third quickest in the session was Mercedes reserve Frederik Vesti, who drove Russell's car ahead of Hamilton. Mercedes participated in one of 10 teams' mandatory rookie sessions. Only Ferrari had both race drivers present. Japanese Ayumu Iwasa, substituting for Max Verstappen at Red Bull, was fifth quickest, ahead of Pierre Gasly's Alpine and Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Haas driver Oliver Bearman and Racing Bull's Arvid Lindblad rounded out the top 10. Freddie Slater's debut at a grand prix weekend for Audi was hindered by reliability issues, allowing him only 14 laps, enough for 19th place. Briton Luke Browning also performed in Williams' car. Colton Herta, a potential Cadillac F1 prospect, was 22nd.

Cadillac believes Herta has accumulated enough miles to obtain the necessary 40 points for a superlicence.