Leclerc Sweeps Mexico City FP2 as Hamilton's Session Ends Early

Charles Leclerc completed a Friday clean sweep in Mexico City, backing up his FP1 benchmark with the fastest time in second practice. The Ferrari driver's 1m 17.827s edged Lando Norris and George Russell, who were separated by just 0.106s at the top of the timesheets ahead of this weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

With the championship battle entering its decisive phase, Friday form at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez carries real weight. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli could only manage fourth, while Max Verstappen's fifth-place effort left him more than three-tenths adrift — a margin that will raise eyebrows at Red Bull given the altitude-sensitive nature of this circuit.

The details:

• Leclerc's pace: The Monegasque looks increasingly comfortable, translating FP1 speed into a consistent qualifying simulation.
• Norris and Russell: Both within a tenth, suggesting McLaren and Mercedes have genuine pole-contending pace.
• Antonelli fourth: The points leader kept his cards close, but a gap to Leclerc is not insignificant.
• Verstappen fifth: Over 0.3s off the pace, Red Bull appear to be chasing setup rather than showing outright speed.
• Hamilton's scare: Lewis Hamilton was told to stop his Ferrari midway through the session with a suspected power unit problem — a costly setback given limited practice running.

What's next:

Teams have one final hour of practice before qualifying, and Ferrari will be sweating on Hamilton's power unit. If the issue proves terminal, a grid penalty could follow. Meanwhile, Red Bull's search for balance at altitude will determine whether Verstappen can challenge the Ferraris and McLarens when it counts.