Charles Leclerc set a blistering pace in the opening session of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend, dominating Friday’s Free Practice 1 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The Ferrari driver logged a best time of 1:18.128, comfortably clear of a talented pack of young prospects looking to make their mark on the Formula 1 stage.
The session, which served as a showcase for the sport’s next generation, saw every team on the grid—with the notable exception of Ferrari—field a rookie driver to satisfy mandatory development requirements. Despite the heavy presence of newcomers, it was the established Ferrari stars who led the way, with Leclerc securing the top spot and teammate Lewis Hamilton putting in a strong performance to finish fourth.
The morning action began with teams initially testing the hard-compound tyres, though the Racing Bulls broke the mold by opting for mediums. By the 15-minute mark, the hierarchy had begun to stabilize, with Leclerc already showing superior pace over the rest of the field. As the session progressed into the second half, the field switched to soft tyres for qualifying simulations. Leclerc seized the opportunity to sharpen his lap time, eventually setting a benchmark that proved roughly two-tenths of a second quicker than the fastest lap recorded in the same session during the 2025 campaign.
Kimi Antonelli impressed throughout the morning, finishing second overall with a 1:18.787, though he remained six and a half tenths adrift of the Monegasque leader. Frederik Vesti rounded out the top three, leading the group of rookies with an impressive display for Mercedes.
The session was not without its hiccups. With 11 minutes remaining on the clock, Aston Martin’s rookie representative, Jak Crawford, came to a halt on the circuit. The stoppage triggered a brief Virtual Safety Car period, briefly interrupting the rhythm of the teams as they gathered final data ahead of the afternoon’s proceedings.
Among the other rookies, Ayumu Iwasa—stepping in for Max Verstappen—put the Red Bull RB22 in fifth, showing strong adaptability. Other notable newcomers such as Gabriele Mini, Ryo Hirakawa, and Colton Herta utilized the session to gain valuable experience, albeit finishing further down the order as they grappled with the high altitude and unique challenges of the Mexico City track.
With Ferrari looking strong and the rookie class providing plenty of intrigue, the paddock now turns its attention to the remainder of the weekend. As teams digest the telemetry from this morning, the focus shifts toward qualifying preparations and the crucial tire degradation management that will define Sunday’s race.
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