Leclerc sets the pace in opening Mexico City GP practice

Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap in the opening practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, giving Ferrari an early benchmark at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The session marked the first real read on the weekend, though teams were still working through setup checks and tire preparation rather than chasing outright qualifying pace.

Why it matters:

FP1 at Mexico City is rarely decisive, but it matters because the circuit’s altitude changes the usual aerodynamic and cooling equations. A car that looks comfortable early can gain a useful head start before the track evolves and the field tightens.

The details:

• Leclerc’s quickest lap put him at the top of the FP1 order for Ferrari.
• The session opened the Mexico City GP weekend and gave teams their first data on the high-altitude track.
• Early running is typically used to validate cooling, braking and aerodynamic assumptions rather than reveal the full competitive order.
• The gap between teams can shift as grip improves and setups are refined across FP2 and FP3.

What’s next:

Ferrari will want to confirm that Leclerc’s pace translates into a consistent race-weekend package, not just a single-session headline. Rivals will have their chance to respond in the next practice sessions, when fuel loads and program choices become easier to compare. For now, Leclerc and Ferrari have the first advantage on the board in Mexico City.