Norris Dominates Final Practice in Mexico City, Hamilton Second

Lando Norris delivered a sensational performance in final practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, topping the timesheets by a significant margin. This dominant display positions him as a strong contender for pole position in Saturday's qualifying session. Despite earlier concerns about McLaren's single-lap pace, Norris found exceptional speed, particularly on soft-tyre runs, signaling a potential shift in the competitive landscape for this weekend.

Why it matters:

Norris's blistering pace in final practice is a major statement of intent, suggesting McLaren has unlocked significant performance. For Lewis Hamilton, securing second place, despite a messy start to the session, highlights Mercedes' improved form. Critically, championship rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri were notably adrift, raising questions about their immediate qualifying prospects and hinting at a potentially wide-open fight for pole.

The Details:

• Norris's Pace: Lando Norris recorded a fastest lap of 1:16.633, a remarkable 0.345 seconds quicker than second-placed Hamilton.
• Surprise Second: Lewis Hamilton, for Ferrari, secured a surprising second place, recovering from three off-track excursions early in the session.
• Championship Rivals Struggle: Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen, two key championship contenders, were over half a second off Norris's pace, finishing fifth and sixth respectively.
• Mercedes and Ferrari: George Russell placed third for Mercedes, while Charles Leclerc improved to fourth in the other Ferrari.
• Team Improvement: McLaren's ability to find significant single-lap pace after expressing concerns on Friday indicates strong engineering adjustments overnight.

Between the lines:

Sky Sports F1's Karun Chandhok highlighted Norris's exceptional rhythm, noting, "Lando has been on fire in this session. Even on his race run yesterday." This consistent performance across different run types suggests Norris isn't just delivering a one-off flyer but has genuinely found a sweet spot with the car around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The substantial gap to Verstappen and Piastri, who are usually at the sharp end, is particularly intriguing and will put pressure on Red Bull and the other McLaren to find answers before qualifying.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to qualifying. While practice sessions offer a glimpse into performance, the true test comes when drivers push for ultimate lap times. If Norris can maintain this advantage, he will be a prime candidate for pole. However, the chasing pack, including Verstappen, Piastri, and the Mercedes drivers, will be working hard to close the gap and challenge for the front row, setting the stage for a thrilling qualifying session later today.