LIVE: 2025 F1 Mexican Grand Prix - Mexico City Free Practice 3

As the final practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix commences, all eyes are on Max Verstappen, who dominated Friday's second practice. With McLaren's drivers hot on his heels in the championship, this session is critical for setting the stage for qualifying and assessing whether anyone can challenge Verstappen's impressive record at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez.

Why it matters:

This final practice hour is the last chance for teams to fine-tune their cars, test different setups, and gather crucial data before the intensity of qualifying begins. For McLaren, it's an opportunity to close the gap to Verstappen and demonstrate their championship mettle. For Verstappen, it's about maintaining his momentum and asserting dominance on a track where he traditionally excels.

The details:

• Verstappen's Dominance: Max Verstappen topped the timesheets in Friday's second practice, showcasing strong pace and consistency around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez. His performance suggests he is once again the driver to beat.
• McLaren's Challenge: McLaren drivers, strong title contenders, are working to extract maximum performance from their cars to counter Verstappen's pace. Their data analysis from Friday will be crucial in their FP3 strategy.
• Track Characteristics: The high-altitude conditions in Mexico City significantly impact engine performance and aerodynamic grip, making setup optimization a complex challenge for all teams.
• Qualifying Preparation: Teams will be focusing on simulating qualifying runs, understanding tire degradation over a single lap, and assessing optimal tire warm-up procedures.

What's next:

The insights gained during this final practice session will directly influence qualifying strategies. The teams that best adapt to the unique conditions and translate their FP3 performance into qualifying pace will be in a prime position for Sunday's race. All eyes will be on whether McLaren can find that extra edge to challenge Verstappen's seemingly unstoppable form, or if the Dutchman will continue his hot streak in Mexico.