Ferrari Fastest in Mexico, but Not Because of Its Turbo

Ferrari ended Friday in Mexico fastest, but not for the reason rivals expected. Charles Leclerc swept FP1 and FP2, yet his edge came from low-speed corners—not superior turbo boost in thin air. Lewis Hamilton said Ferrari still lost “two or three tenths” at the end of straights, while Oscar Piastri felt the turbo mattered less than feared.

Why it matters:

Mexico’s altitude was supposed to favor Ferrari’s smaller turbo. Instead, slow-corner strength—Turns 1-3, 4-6 and 12 into the stadium—gave Leclerc his long-run consistency. Ferrari is the benchmark, but the edge looks track-specific rather than a power-unit breakthrough.

The details:

• Leclerc’s medium-tyre average was 1m21.163s, ahead of Norris (1m21.319s), Hadjar (1m21.369s), Russell (1m21.442s) and Verstappen (1m21.490s).
• Verstappen’s run was hurt by floor damage from his clash with Liam Lawson; Red Bull expects gains once repaired.
• FP2 was over 10°C cooler than Sunday, so long-run data may flatter Ferrari. Tyre overheating could make the medium the better race tyre, and clean air plus qualifying will be vital.

What's next:

Ferrari must turn Friday pace into Q3. Its recurring weakness is getting tyres into the ideal window on Saturday; at a low-downforce track where the rears slide, that could decide pole. With the field tight, execution—not turbo boost—may settle the Mexico GP.