Leclerc leads rookie-heavy FP1 at Mexico GP with dominant 1:18.128 lap

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Charles Leclerc set the pace in a Ferrari-dominated first practice session at the Mexico Grand Prix, clocking a 1:18.128 to top a field that featured 10 rookies. The session at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez unfolded under low-grip conditions and was notable for the large number of young drivers getting track time, with all teams except Ferrari running a rookie in place of their regular race drivers.

Leclerc’s benchmark lap was a full six-tenths faster than runner-up Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old Mercedes junior who impressed by holding second place. Frederik Vesti, substituting for George Russell at Mercedes, completed the top three with a 1:18.861. The session’s early phase saw lap times tumble rapidly as the track evolved, with Leclerc initially setting a 1:21.965 before Antonelli quickly lowered the bar by over a second on hard tyres. Leclerc responded by shaving off further tenths, eventually reclaiming top spot with a 1:19.137 before switching to soft tyres in the session’s second half.

Rookie drivers faced a challenging session, with Audi stand-in Freddie Slater suffering technical issues and McLaren’s Leonardo Fornaroli and Oscar Piastri both running off track in sector one. Piastri, who lost the championship lead at this circuit last year, struggled to find pace in his MCL40, ending the session 1.248 seconds off Leclerc’s best on soft tyres. Meanwhile, Vesti capitalized on the conditions to secure third place, just 0.080 seconds behind Antonelli.

The session’s timing and track conditions were unusual, starting at least 90 minutes earlier than qualifying and race sessions, and the circuit’s infrequent use throughout the year meant significant track evolution was expected. This made FP1 an ideal opportunity for teams to field rookies and gather data in less representative conditions. Power unit problems also affected Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull, limiting his running.

Leclerc’s performance reinforced Ferrari’s strong form ahead of the weekend, while the rookies’ involvement highlighted the sport’s focus on developing emerging talent. With the track expected to evolve further, teams will look to build on this opening session as qualifying approaches.