Outstanding speed was once again displayed by the Ferrari team after Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in both Friday practice sessions at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Repeating the strong performance they previously showed in Austin, the Maranello-based squad immediately sent a clear warning shot in the hunt for pole position. Data indicates that the Prancing Horse outfit holds an advantage of around 0.17 seconds in qualifying simulations, largely thanks to their significant performance edge through the iconic slow-speed corners of the Mexican capital circuit.
Although his ultimate lap time was not entirely tidy as he left time on the table, the Monegasque driver remained untouchable at the top of the timesheets. On the other side of the garage, Lewis Hamilton showed very competitive pace before a power loss incident forced him to stop his car on track and miss half of the second practice session. Nevertheless, direct rivals have started acknowledging the formidable package the Italian squad possesses, noting that their chassis suits the slow-speed layout exceptionally well.
"It’s fair to say Ferrari are looking strongest at the moment," said Mercedes driver George Russell, acknowledging the early dominance of their rivals in adapting to the high-altitude conditions that demand precise cooling management. Ferrari's advantage actually extended further during long-run race simulations, where they pulled roughly a quarter of a second clear of chasing packs like Mercedes, Red Bull, and McLaren. Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur stated that the pace was immediately there from the morning session, and the team's primary focus now is fine-tuning the setup to maintain optimal tyre longevity.
Meanwhile, the battle at the sharp end of the grid promises to be fiercely contested as gaps between top-tier teams remain remarkably tight. Mercedes and Red Bull lurk closely behind with deficits ranging between 0.17 and 0.18 seconds over a single lap, while McLaren also demonstrated positive momentum as Lando Norris secured the second-fastest time in FP2. In the Mercedes garage, Kimi Antonelli—who is on the brink of securing a historic world title—looked solid throughout both sessions despite feeling under the weather recently, finishing fourth quickest right behind his experienced teammate.
On the other hand, the Red Bull camp encountered drama when Max Verstappen was involved in a clash with Liam Lawson that caused floor damage during the afternoon session. Technical Director Pierre Wache admitted that the damage clearly affected the reigning champion's performance, forcing the team into overnight work to improve car balance. However, history shows that Red Bull frequently manages significant overnight gains from Friday to Saturday, setting the stage for an intense and unpredictable battle for pole position.
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