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Quick Answer
Charles Leclerc topped both Friday practices at the Mexico City Grand Prix, with Kimi Antonelli second in FP1 and fourth in FP2 after returning from a viral illness. Qualifying is Saturday at 15:00 Mexico City time, and Antonelli can win the title on Sunday.
Charles Leclerc topped both Friday practice sessions at the Mexico City Grand Prix, and Kimi Antonelli returned to the car after missing Thursday media day with a viral illness. That is the headline from Friday at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, and it matters for two reasons. First, Ferrari have now topped five consecutive practice sessions, according to Friday reporting, which suggests their pace in Mexico is real, not a one session fluke. Second, Antonelli completed both Friday sessions, second in FP1 and fourth in FP2, which removes the biggest doubt hanging over the title decider, at least for now. Mercedes said on Friday that they expected him back, and he was back, with 30 laps in FP1 and 33 laps in FP2.
Practice pace does not decide qualifying or the race, especially in Mexico City, where the thin air at about 2,200 metres above sea level, the dusty track surface on Friday, and the long main straight all reward different car strengths at different times of the weekend. But Friday does tell us who starts the weekend with a car that works, who has a problem to fix overnight, and who has already had a confrontation that could carry into qualifying. All three stories were present on Friday.
What happened in FP1?
Charles Leclerc set the FP1 benchmark with a lap of 1:18.128 on soft tyres in the second half of the one hour session. Antonelli was second, 0.659 seconds behind, with a best lap of 1:18.787. Frederik Vesti, Mercedes reserve driver, was third, 0.733 seconds behind Leclerc, but Vesti was driving George Russell's car as part of the required young driver practice programme, not as Russell. Lewis Hamilton was fourth in the other Ferrari, 0.738 seconds behind Leclerc, just five thousandths behind Vesti.
That FP1 session featured ten rookie or reserve drivers, because all but Ferrari gave track time to young drivers. Ayumu Iwasa was fastest of the non race drivers in fifth for Red Bull, in place of Max Verstappen. The session was punctuated by a brief Virtual Safety Car intervention, and grip was at a premium early on because the track was dusty. Antonelli slid through the stadium section, as did home hero Sergio Perez, before the track rubbered in.
The important point for Antonelli is not the gap to Leclerc, it is that he completed the session at all. On Thursday, Mercedes confirmed he was recovering from a viral illness, the FIA excused him from mandatory media duties as a precaution, and the team said they expected him back on Friday. Reuters reported on Friday that Antonelli was reported fit after a bout of sickness, and his FP1 performance backs that up, without proving how fully he has recovered. A driver can set a fast lap while still feeling unwell, and the real test is whether he can complete a full race distance on Sunday at altitude, in a car that demands a lot physically.
What happened in FP2?
Leclerc improved to 1:17.827 in FP2, and the gaps closed dramatically behind him. Lando Norris was second for McLaren, 0.103 seconds behind, George Russell was third for Mercedes, 0.106 seconds behind, Antonelli was fourth, 0.217 seconds behind, and Verstappen was fifth for Red Bull, 0.311 seconds behind. Isack Hadjar was sixth, Arvid Lindblad seventh, and Pierre Gasly eighth. Liam Lawson was ninth, and Oscar Piastri was tenth, more than half a second behind Norris.
Hamilton's FP2 ended very differently. He stopped midway through the hour with a power problem, according to Friday reporting, and was left 11th. That gives Ferrari contrasting fortunes on Friday: Leclerc fastest in both sessions, Hamilton with a problem to investigate overnight. It also means Hamilton's title hopes, already slim, depend on a clean qualifying session on Saturday, because a power problem that recurs in qualifying would be far more costly than one in practice.
The FP2 incident that will dominate Saturday's build up was the collision between Verstappen and Lawson in the stadium section. The two Red Bull family drivers were fighting for track position going into the Foro Sol section, they tangled, debris was scattered on the track, and the session was red flagged for a short delay while the track was cleared. Verstappen afterwards described Lawson as not very smart, according to AFP reporting, and said Lawson caused the trouble. Lawson's version has not been given the same prominence in Friday reporting, and fans should not treat Verstappen's verdict as a stewards decision. The stewards process, if any, is separate from a driver's radio or media reaction, and no official penalty is claimed in this article.
What are the Friday practice times in full?
The table below gives the top five in each Friday session, with gaps to the leader. Full classifications are published by Formula 1, and the gaps below are the ones that matter for the title fight, because they show where Antonelli, Russell and Hamilton sit relative to Leclerc and to each other.
| Session | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | | FP1, Friday 30 October | Leclerc, Ferrari, 1:18.128 | Antonelli, Mercedes, plus 0.659 | Vesti, Mercedes (Russell car), plus 0.733 | Hamilton, Ferrari, plus 0.738 | Iwasa, Red Bull (Verstappen car), plus 0.985 | | FP2, Friday 30 October | Leclerc, Ferrari, 1:17.827 | Norris, McLaren, plus 0.103 | Russell, Mercedes, plus 0.106 | Antonelli, Mercedes, plus 0.217 | Verstappen, Red Bull, plus 0.311 |
Russell did not take part in FP1, because Vesti took his car, so his FP2 third place is his first real benchmark of the weekend. That makes his FP2 pace more encouraging for Mercedes than the FP1 sheet suggests, because Russell was immediately within a tenth of Leclerc when he did get in the car. Norris second in FP2 is also significant, because McLaren have been tied with Red Bull on 355 points in the constructors championship, behind Mercedes on 607 and Ferrari on 474.
Has the title maths changed after Friday?
No. Practice does not change the championship standings, and Antonelli's position is exactly as it was on Thursday. He has 365 points, Russell has 242, Hamilton has 241, Verstappen has 236, Leclerc has 233, and Norris has 211. There are 125 points still available after Mexico, across five races, with no fastest lap point in 2026.
Antonelli is champion on Sunday if he finishes ninth or higher, which scores at least two points. If he finishes tenth, the title is still done provided Russell does not win. If Antonelli scores no points at all, he is still champion provided neither Russell nor Hamilton wins. Only a Russell win or a Hamilton win, combined with Antonelli scoring one point or fewer, sends the championship to Sao Paulo on 6 to 8 November. That is why Friday matters, but does not decide anything. Antonelli in the car, in fourth in FP2, keeps all those permutations alive. Antonelli out of the car would have made them harder, but not impossible, because Russell and Hamilton would still need to win.
Antonelli would become the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history at 20 years and 68 days on race day, beating Sebastian Vettel's record of 23 years and 134 days, and he would become Italy's first world champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953. He has won nine races this season, a total nobody else can equal. He said before the illness news that he would love to clinch the title in style, with a great result, and that he plans to keep his permanent race number 12 if he wins the title, rather than switching to number 1.
What about Perez and his 300th race?
Sergio Perez starts his 300th Grand Prix on Sunday, at home, for Cadillac, fresh from a contract extension that will keep him at Cadillac through to 2029. On Wednesday he drove a show run on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City, in front of thousands of fans. Perez, 36, missed the 2025 season after leaving Red Bull at the end of 2024, and Cadillac are still the only team without a point after 18 races. His best home finish remains third in 2021, and he finished 19th at Austin.
Perez will become only the seventh driver in history to reach 300 race starts, and he gets to do it in front of his home crowd in Mexico City, on the weekend of the Day of the Dead celebrations. Even if Cadillac cannot fight for points, Perez will get a reception on Sunday that no other driver on the grid will match. Valtteri Bottas, his Cadillac team mate, also missed Thursday media day through illness, and Cadillac said that was a precautionary day of rest that does not currently affect his participation in the race weekend. Cadillac's reserve is Zhou Guanyu, and American Colton Herta is also available, with Herta scheduled to run in opening practice for Cadillac on Friday.
When are qualifying and the race, and how can I watch them?
The Mexico City Grand Prix weekend runs from Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, with no sprint race. The race is 71 laps of the 4.304 kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, a total distance of 305.584 kilometres. Session times below are session start times. Note the clock change trap: the United States leaves daylight time on Sunday morning, so New York moves from daylight time to standard time between qualifying and the race, while Europe is already on winter time.
| Session | Mexico City local | London GMT | Berlin and Paris CET | New York | Karachi PKT | | Practice 3, Saturday 31 October | 11:30 | 17:30 | 18:30 | 13:30 EDT | 22:30 | | Qualifying, Saturday 31 October | 15:00 | 21:00 | 22:00 | 17:00 EDT | 02:00 Sunday | | Race, Sunday 1 November, 71 laps | 14:00 | 20:00 | 21:00 | 15:00 EST | 01:00 Monday |
In the UK, every session is live on Sky Sports F1, with highlights on Channel 4 after the race. In the United States, the weekend is exclusive to Apple TV, which now carries Formula 1 in a new F1 channel on the platform, with F1 TV Premium included. In Mexico, Televisa carries the race on free to air television and on pay television via Sky Sports on izzi and Sky Plus. In Canada, TSN carries the race.
Saturday's qualifying session is the first real test of Friday's pace. If Leclerc's Friday speed carries into qualifying, Ferrari will start from the front, and Antonelli will have to fight through traffic to get the ninth place he needs. If Mercedes find more pace overnight, as they often do, Antonelli could start near the front and control his own title destiny. Either way, the title will not be decided on Saturday night, but the grid order on Saturday night will tell us how hard Sunday will be.
Related live posts: Antonelli Ill Before Mexico Title Decider: Vesti on Standby, Bottas Also Out and Friday Times, and Perez 300th Grand Prix in Mexico: Show Run Today, Cadillac First Points and Antonelli Title Watch.
Sources: Formula 1, Mexico City FP1 report and results, 30 October 2026; Reuters, Leclerc fastest in Mexico practice, Antonelli returns from sickness, 30 October 2026; Speedcafe, Leclerc tops Mexico FP2 as Verstappen and Lawson clash, 30 October 2026; AFP via SuperSport, Verstappen slams Lawson after FP2 clash, 30 October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was fastest in Mexico Friday practice?
Charles Leclerc, with 1:18.128 in FP1 and 1:17.827 in FP2, fastest in both sessions for Ferrari.
Is Kimi Antonelli fit for the Mexico Grand Prix?
Antonelli returned for both Friday sessions after missing Thursday media day with a viral illness, finishing second in FP1 and fourth in FP2, and Mercedes expect him to race, but no detailed medical update beyond viral illness has been given.
What happened between Verstappen and Lawson in FP2?
Verstappen and Lawson collided in the stadium section, debris caused a brief red flag, and Verstappen afterwards criticised Lawson, but no official penalty is claimed here.
How can Antonelli win the title in Mexico?
By finishing ninth or higher, or by neither George Russell nor Lewis Hamilton winning the race. Only a Russell or Hamilton win, plus Antonelli scoring one point or fewer, sends the title to Sao Paulo.
When is Mexico qualifying?
Saturday 31 October at 15:00 Mexico City time, 21:00 London, 22:00 Berlin and Paris, 17:00 New York daylight time, and 02:00 Sunday in Karachi.
When is the Mexico City Grand Prix race?
Sunday 1 November at 14:00 Mexico City time, 20:00 London, 21:00 Berlin and Paris, 15:00 New York standard time, and 01:00 Monday in Karachi, over 71 laps.
