In a thrilling conclusion to the final practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, McLaren's Lando Norris emerged as the front-runner, posting a blistering time of 1m 16.633s. This impressive performance placed him more than three-tenths clear of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who secured second place, while Mercedes' George Russell rounded out the top three. The session took place at the renowned Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, setting the stage for an exciting race weekend.
As the session progressed, Norris set his fastest time with less than 10 minutes remaining, showcasing his speed ahead of the race. His McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, and reigning champion Max Verstappen finished fifth and sixth, respectively, highlighting the competitive nature of the session. Verstappen, who had expressed concerns about his race pace on Friday, was the first out on track during the one-hour practice session on Saturday.
Hamilton, eager to make a mark, immediately pushed the limits, experiencing a slight misstep at Turn 4 during his first flying lap and later venturing onto the grass at Turn 1. As the session neared the 15-minute mark, Carlos Sainz took the lead with a lap time of 1m 18.028s, becoming the first driver to utilize the soft Pirelli tires effectively. This time stood as the benchmark until the session approached its halfway point.
Norris soon responded, improving his position by posting a time of 1m 18.015s on medium tires, slotting him into third place behind Sainz and Verstappen. The tight 2.67-mile circuit proved challenging, with many drivers facing traffic on their flying laps. Meanwhile, Piastri struggled to find his rhythm, finishing the session over four-tenths slower than his teammate.
As the session transitioned into its latter stages, Verstappen focused on a race simulation with medium tires. Russell experienced difficulties, expressing frustration over his car's handling issues. At one point, the top six drivers, including Norris, Sainz, Russell, Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and Isack Hadjar, were separated by just 0.065s, highlighting the intense competition.
In a dramatic turn, Russell became the first driver to break the 1m 18s barrier, clocking in at 1m 17.892s. This was soon eclipsed by Hadjar and then Piastri, who set the new benchmark at 1m 17.315s with less than 15 minutes remaining. The times continued to drop, with Leclerc and Antonelli also momentarily leading before Hamilton made headlines by going below the 1m 17s mark with a stunning 1m 16.978s.
Ultimately, Norris reclaimed the top spot with his session-leading time of 1m 16.633s, which remained unbeaten as the checkered flag fell. Hamilton and Russell secured second and third positions, respectively, while Leclerc trailed Piastri, finishing six-tenths off Norris's pace. Verstappen and Antonelli followed closely behind, with the Red Bull driver voicing his frustration over a lack of grip. The top ten concluded with Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda, and Gabriel Bortoleto, while Liam Lawson, Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, Nico Hulkenberg, and Sainz filled out the remaining spots.
Alex Albon faced challenges as well, struggling with power issues that left him in 16th place, just ahead of Ollie Bearman and the two Alpine drivers, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto. Fernando Alonso finished in 20th, with Aston Martin reporting a minor front-right issue that hampered his performance.
With all 20 drivers gearing up for the crucial qualifying session later on Saturday, the excitement for the Mexico City Grand Prix continues to build. Fans and teams alike are eager to see how the competitive landscape will unfold as they prepare for what promises to be an exhilarating race.
