Norris Dominates Final Practice in Mexico City, Hamilton and Russell Close Behind

Lando Norris surged to the top of the final practice session for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, putting in a commanding performance almost four tenths of a second ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Championship leader Oscar Piastri and title rival Max Verstappen finished fifth and sixth respectively, suggesting a tight battle for qualifying.

Why it matters:

• With championship stakes high, Norris's pace in FP3 could signal McLaren's strong potential for qualifying and the race, especially as his main championship rival Piastri was a few places behind.
• Hamilton's strong showing suggests Mercedes could be a contender for pole, while Verstappen's struggles with grip could be a worrying sign for Red Bull.
• The fluctuating times across the session, with various drivers topping the charts, indicates a highly competitive grid where tire management and a perfect lap will be crucial.

The details:

• Early Pace Setters: Max Verstappen initially set the pace on medium tires, followed by Gabriel Bortoleto and Lewis Hamilton, who recovered from early lock-ups.
• Sainz's Soft Tire Advantage: Carlos Sainz briefly topped the charts using soft tires, showcasing the potential of the softer compound early on.
• Norris's Ascendancy: Lando Norris, after a strong initial run on mediums, steadily improved, eventually jumping to the top with a commanding 1:16.633 on softs.
• Mercedes' Mixed Fortunes: George Russell initially struggled with medium tires but then found significant pace to take second, while Kimi Antonelli also showed strong performance before Norris's final surge.
• Verstappen's Grip Issues: Max Verstappen, despite a purple middle sector on one of his soft runs, only managed sixth, complaining of 'no grip, front and rear,' indicating potential setup issues.
• Piastri's Improvement: Oscar Piastri, after initially struggling on mediums, found better pace on softs, securing fifth place, just under six tenths behind his teammate Norris.

The big picture:

The final practice session highlighted the dynamic nature of the Mexico City circuit, where track evolution and tire choice play critical roles. McLaren appears to have found a strong setup, particularly with Norris, while Mercedes also looks competitive. Red Bull, typically dominant, seems to be grappling with grip, which could open up opportunities for their rivals. The spread of times across the top ten suggests that qualifying will be incredibly close, with fractions of a second separating the contenders.

What's next:

Qualifying will be the true test, where teams will aim to optimize their setups for a single flying lap. The performance of the soft tires over a full lap will be key, and any remaining grip issues for Red Bull could see them starting further down the grid than expected. The championship battle between Piastri and Verstappen, along with Norris's surge, adds an extra layer of intrigue, promising a thrilling qualifying session and an unpredictable race on Sunday.