F1 Mexico GP FP1: Charles Leclerc Leads as Rookies Get Track Time

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in the opening practice session for the Mexico Grand Prix, with a 1m18.380s. This session saw nine rookie drivers gain valuable Formula 1 experience, as several established stars like Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton sat out to fulfill young driver regulations.

Why it matters:

• The Mexico GP's FP1 is crucial for teams to fulfill mandated young driver sessions, offering a glimpse into the next generation of F1 talent while allowing established teams to test various setups.
• The high altitude of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez track makes setup and tire management exceptionally challenging, with low grip initially due to a dusty surface.
• Leclerc's strong start for Ferrari indicates the team's early pace, but with key rivals absent, the true pecking order remains to be seen.

The Details:

• The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was characteristically dusty with poor grip at the start, making initial runs on hard tires challenging.
• Most drivers eventually switched to soft tires, significantly improving lap times, though still more than two seconds off last year's pole position by Carlos Sainz.
• Top Performers:
  • Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): 1m18.380s (Softs)
  • Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): 1m18.487s, securing second place.
  • Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber): Rounded out the top three, nearly four-tenths behind Leclerc.
• Rookie Highlights:
  • Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull Racing): Emerged as the fastest rookie with a 1m18.997s, suggesting a promising future, possibly with Racing Bulls in 2026.
  • Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber): Placed fifth, making it two Saubers in the top five, and notable as Sauber has already met its rookie requirements for 2025.
• Tyre Strategies: While many used softs for their fastest laps, several rookies like Ayumu Iwasa (Racing Bulls), Luke Browning (Williams), and Jak Crawford (Aston Martin), along with Alex Albon and Isack Hadjar, did not use soft tires, impacting their final positions.
• Incidents: Despite the tricky conditions, all drivers avoided major incidents, though Franco Colapinto, Hadjar, and Oscar Piastri each had harmless excursions off track.

What's next:

• The focus will now shift to FP2 and FP3, where all regular drivers are expected to participate, providing a clearer picture of the competitive landscape for qualifying and the race.
• Teams will work intensively on optimizing car setup and understanding tire degradation on the challenging Mexican circuit.
• The performances of the rookie drivers will be closely scrutinized as teams evaluate their potential for future F1 seats, especially with 2025 and 2026 regulations on the horizon.