Leclerc Dominates Dusty Mexico City GP FP1; Lindblad Impresses as Top Rookie

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the pace in a challenging opening practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, posting a 1m18.380s on a notoriously dusty Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit. The session saw a significant rookie presence, with nine young drivers getting valuable F1 experience as established stars like Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton sat out.

Why it matters:

This session offered an early glimpse into Ferrari's potential performance in Mexico's high-altitude conditions, where engine power and aerodynamic efficiency are tested to their limits. The extensive rookie participation also provided a crucial opportunity for upcoming talent to showcase their skills, impacting potential future F1 seats and the sport's development pipeline.

The Details:

• Dusty Conditions: The track started with low grip due to a thick layer of dust, making early running cautious and times significantly slower than last year's pole position.
• Rookie Showcase: Nine rookie drivers participated, fulfilling F1 regulations that mandate two FP1 sessions per season for young drivers.
  • Standouts: Red Bull's Arvid Lindblad, filling in for Max Verstappen, impressed by logging the fastest rookie time (1m18.997s) for sixth overall, demonstrating remarkable composure on his debut.
  • Other Rookies: Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) placed second overall, while Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) rounded out the top five, signaling Sauber's early fulfillment of their 2025 rookie quota.
  • Strategic Choices: Some rookies, including Ayumu Iwasa (Racing Bulls), Luke Browning (Williams), and Jak Crawford (Aston Martin), opted not to use soft tires, focusing instead on mileage and data collection.
• Leclerc's Pace: Leclerc's leading time was 0.107s quicker than Antonelli, indicating strong early form for Ferrari.
• Tyre Strategies: Most drivers began on hard compounds before switching to softs as the session progressed and the track began to rubber in, though lap times remained over two seconds off last year's benchmark.

What's next:

With track conditions expected to improve significantly, Friday's full FP2 session will see the return of the title heavyweights and offer a more representative look at the pecking order. The focus will shift to understanding long-run pace and fine-tuning setups for qualifying and the race, where Ferrari's early advantage could be a strong indicator of their weekend potential.