Norris Edges Antonelli by 0.001s in Mexico City FP3

Lando Norris, the reigning World Champion, set the fastest time in Free Practice 3 for the Mexico City Grand Prix, edging Kimi Antonelli by just 0.001s. The McLaren driver's late 1m17.600s denied Antonelli, who stands on the brink of his first drivers' title this weekend, as Charles Leclerc slotted third for Ferrari.

Why it matters:

The thousandth-of-a-second gap underlines how tight the 2026 title fight has become. Antonelli can clinch the crown on Sunday, but Norris and McLaren are determined to delay the celebration. Every small margin counts in qualifying.

The details:

• Norris waited until the final minutes to post his best lap, with Antonelli 0.001s adrift and Leclerc 0.117s back.
• Oscar Piastri was fourth, Max Verstappen fifth, as Red Bull struggled for one-lap pace.
• Gabriel Bortoleto suffered a power unit issue early on, smoke visible from his Audi, and failed to set a time.
• Sergio Perez missed the session after Cadillac made a precautionary power unit change.
• Ryo Hirakawa, replacing Esteban Ocon at Haas, logged valuable mileage before his F1 debut.
• George Russell reported "no rear end" at Turn 12, highlighting the low-grip challenge.

What's next:

Qualifying will be decisive. Track evolution and tyre management could shuffle the order, while Antonelli's first match point adds pressure. Norris needs pole to keep his slim title hopes alive.