Mexico City (AFP) – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc dominated practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix on Friday, clocking the fastest times in both sessions for the second weekend running. The Monegasque driver clocked a best lap in one minute and 17.827 seconds in the second practice session to outpace McLaren’s world champion Lando Norris by 0.103 seconds, with George Russell finishing third ahead of his Mercedes team-mate, runaway championship leader Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli, 20, who was absent on Thursday to recover from a virus, can become the sport’s youngest champion on Sunday, and Italy’s first since 1963, if he finishes in the top nine. He can also take the title if his two remaining rivals – Russell and Ferrari’s seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton – fail to win.
Leclerc’s success on Friday repeated his showing in Austin, Texas, at last weekend’s United States Grand Prix. Red Bull’s four-time champion Max Verstappen, a record five-time winner in Mexico, was fifth ahead of team-mate Isack Hadjar after an early clash with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, which left him with damaged bodywork. Lawson’s team-mate Arvid Lindblad was seventh ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Lawson, and Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren. Seven-time champion Hamilton was down in 11th for Ferrari after suffering a power failure that ended his running midway through.
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The session began with Gasly leading Alpine team-mate Franco Colapinto out ahead of Cadillac’s local hero Sergio Perez, set for his 300th race start, becoming the seventh driver to reach this landmark. He was promptly cautioned for a pit lane infringement. After the inclusion of 10 rookie reserves in free practice one, all 22 full-timers were back with a wide range of tyres on show – Ferrari taking mediums, Verstappen softs, and others hards on the low-grip track. A red flag paused the action after 15 minutes to clear debris in the Foro Sol after Verstappen clashed with stable-mate Lawson and damaged his car’s bargeboard. The frustrated Dutchman’s actions seemed excessively aggressive and required a Red Bull pit-stop for repairs.
The incident was noted by the stewards and set for investigation afterwards. Ferrari dominated the early stages with Leclerc on top before Norris, on softs, took command as McLaren bounced back shortly before Hamilton lost power and pulled up on the straight. Hamilton had just switched to softs and completed one lap. It was a setback for Hamilton, who lost vital learning time on softs while Leclerc regained the initiative ahead of Norris, Russell, and Antonelli before the field switched to heavier fuel loads and medium tyres.
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