Live: 2026 Mexico City GP FP2 – Stars Return After Rookie-Heavy FP1

Free Practice 2 for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix is live, with the regular frontrunners back in action after a rookie-heavy opening session. Charles Leclerc set the early benchmark in FP1, but now George Russell, Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen return to their cockpits for the crucial second practice. The session is expected to see a mix of qualifying runs and race simulations as teams chase the optimal setup.

Why it matters:

FP2 offers the most representative conditions of the weekend, closely mirroring qualifying and race temperatures. With the championship in its final stretch, teams cannot afford to waste this session. The unique high-altitude environment of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez reduces downforce and challenges cooling, making data gathering here more critical than at most circuits. Pirelli's tyre compounds for Mexico often lead to graining and overheating, so understanding degradation is key.

The details:

• Leclerc was fastest in a dusty FP1 that featured 10 rookie drivers across the grid.
• Russell, Norris, and Verstappen sat out FP1 but are back for FP2, immediately raising the intensity.
• Teams will likely split their programmes between qualifying simulations and long-run tyre evaluations.
• The dusty track surface is expected to improve, but grip remains a moving target for all drivers.
• Live timing provides the current classification, while the live blog captures every key moment as it happens.

What's next:

The session will reveal whether Leclerc's FP1 pace translates into a real advantage or if the returning stars will assert their authority. Keep an eye on the long-run times—they often tell a clearer story about Sunday's race prospects than the headline lap times. With the altitude and low grip, qualifying order could be unpredictable.