Leclerc Leads Rookie-Dominated FP1 in Mexico City

Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in a rookie-dominated FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix, with 10 drivers making their first official F1 appearance. The Ferrari driver was 0.6s clear of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, while Colton Herta completed 30 laps to secure his F1 super licence and strengthen his case for a 2027 seat.

Why it matters:

This session offered a rare glimpse into F1's future, with teams running unfamiliar line-ups except Ferrari. Leclerc's pace advantage—0.659s over Antonelli—suggests the Scuderia might have found something, but the focus was on Herta's super licence and the performance of the rookies.

The details:

• Top five: Leclerc (1:18.128), Antonelli (+0.659), Fred Vesti (+0.733), Lewis Hamilton (+0.738), Ayumu Iwasa (+0.985).
• Herta's milestone: The American needed 24 laps for his super licence; he did 30, finishing 22nd overall. He is now a serious threat to Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac for 2027.
• Incidents: Freddie Slater had a cooling fan left on his Audi, Jak Crawford stopped his Aston Martin on track, Leonardo Fornaroli suffered a wild slide and pinched brakes, and Nikola Tsolov became the first Bulgarian in an F1 session despite a dead leg.

What's next:

The rookie session sets up an intriguing weekend. Herta's performance raises questions about Cadillac's lineup, while Leclerc's margin suggests Ferrari could be a factor. The competitive order remains unclear, but the stage is set for a fascinating Mexican GP.