Source – Auto Action
In a session that included a number of rookies and a few red lights, Mercedes driver George Russell led the way from Ferrari opponent Carlos Sainz and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda to win the first practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The start of the Mexican Grand Prix weekend delivered action from the outset, as five teams made their planned driver changes in compliance with regulations requiring all F1 drivers to sit out one Free Practice 1 session per season for a rookie appearance. Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, and Kick Sauber fielded fresh faces in the opening practice session, showcasing the next wave of talent alongside a handful of established F1 names.
For Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli—slated to take over Lewis Hamilton’s seat in 2025—made his debut for the Silver Arrows, marking an exciting first for the young Italian. Ferrari gave Ollie Bearman a turn behind the wheel, as the British driver continues his trajectory towards a future F1 seat with Haas. At McLaren, Mexican-American IndyCar star Pato O’Ward energized the home crowd, making his return to F1 practice sessions. Aston Martin fielded 2018 GP2 champion Felipe Drugovich, while Robert Shwartzman took the helm at Kick Sauber.
This lineup change saw a notable group of regulars sitting out FP1, with Lewis Hamilton, US Grand Prix victor Charles Leclerc, McLaren’s Lando Norris, Zhou Guanyu, and the ever-experienced Fernando Alonso missing the action on track. Alonso’s absence carried added significance as he celebrated his milestone 400th race weekend—a record of longevity that speaks volumes of the Spaniard’s commitment to the sport.
Yet, the excitement of new faces on track quickly shifted to tension as Race Control threw a red flag within the first few minutes. Debris littered the long start/finish straight, leading to a temporary halt while marshals cleared the way. Replays showed Antonelli’s Mercedes encountering the debris at the first corner braking zone, creating an early challenge for the rookie driver. After a swift cleanup, cars resumed running about ten minutes into the session, though drivers struggled to maintain traction on the dusty surface of the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit.
George Russell led the initial time charts, piloting an older Mercedes package and clocking a 1m 19.519s on hard compound Pirelli tires. Russell’s early pace captured attention, while any sight of O’Ward and Mexico’s own Sergio Perez was met with roars from the crowd. Shortly after, Carlos Sainz moved to the top with a 1m 19.407s as he settled into his rhythm.
Drama struck again midway through the session when Alex Albon lost control of his Williams while negotiating the esses. Albon’s car slid into Ollie Bearman’s Ferrari before colliding with the barrier, drawing another red flag and halting the session. Fortunately, Albon was unscathed, though visibly frustrated as he relayed the incident over the radio. The crash left Williams mechanics facing a challenging repair job for FP2, and Bearman’s Ferrari also suffered front-left damage, sidelining both drivers for the remainder of the session.
Following necessary barrier adjustments, the green light returned, sparking a burst of late-session activity as drivers looked to improve their times. With soft tires on, Russell reclaimed the top spot, setting a 1m 17.998s and securing his lead over Sainz, Yuki Tsunoda, and Max Verstappen. Verstappen, though, was hit by concerns in the session’s closing stages, reporting engine issues and a sudden loss of power—unwelcome signs for the championship leader heading into the weekend.
Nico Hulkenberg delivered an impressive run for Haas, landing in fifth and continuing the team’s recent upswing. Behind him, Oscar Piastri’s McLaren secured sixth, followed by Esteban Ocon for Alpine and Valtteri Bottas for Kick Sauber. Liam Lawson and local hero Sergio Perez rounded out the top ten, with Perez no doubt feeling the weight of expectations from a passionate home crowd.
For Williams, Franco Colapinto, substituting for Albon, gathered data through most of the session, finishing in 11th. Antonelli, meanwhile, completed his debut session in 12th, just ahead of O’Ward, with Haas’s Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, and Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin rounding out the midfield. Albon and Bearman, due to their incident, were classified 17th and 20th, while Drugovich encountered heavy traffic in his final sector, ending the session 18th, with Shwartzman just behind.
As teams reconvene in the paddock to assess FP1 data, drivers are set to return to the track for FP2, dedicated to Pirelli’s crucial tire testing, adding yet another layer of strategy and preparation for the race ahead.
