Norris Dominates Final Practice in Mexico City Ahead of Qualifying

Lando Norris surged to the top in the final practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, putting McLaren in a strong position heading into qualifying. His impressive lap time of 1m16.633s placed him significantly ahead of rivals, suggesting McLaren's pace is formidable on this circuit. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell followed, indicating Mercedes' potential, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished a surprising sixth.

Why it matters:

This final practice session offers the clearest indication yet of who has the pace and setup dialed in for qualifying and the race. Norris's performance is a major boost for McLaren, potentially setting them up for a pole position challenge, a crucial advantage on a track where overtaking can be tricky. Red Bull's seemingly subdued pace, particularly from Verstappen, could hint at them holding back or facing unexpected challenges.

The details:

• Norris's Dominance: Lando Norris set the fastest time with a 1m16.633s, finishing a substantial 0.345s clear of second-placed Lewis Hamilton.
• Mercedes Strong Showing: Lewis Hamilton and George Russell secured second and third positions, respectively, showcasing Mercedes' improved performance.
• Ferrari's Position: Charles Leclerc took fourth, followed by Oscar Piastri in fifth, placing both McLaren and Ferrari drivers within the top five.
• Verstappen's Sixth: Max Verstappen, typically a front-runner, could only manage sixth place, 0.609s off Norris's pace.
• Emerging Talents: Kimi Antonelli continued to impress in seventh, while Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda also made it into the top nine.
• Alonso's Struggles: Fernando Alonso had a challenging session, spending significant time in the garage and ultimately finishing last.

By the numbers:

What's next:

The focus now shifts to qualifying, which is set to begin at 3 pm local time (8 am AEDT). Norris's dominant performance in FP3 sets up an exciting battle for pole position, with Mercedes and Ferrari also showing strong contention. Red Bull will be looking to unleash their full potential in qualifying, and it remains to be seen if their FP3 pace was a true reflection or a strategic downplay. Alonso's team will be working hard to resolve any issues before the critical qualifying session.