Norris Edges Antonelli by 0.001s in Mexico FP3

Lando Norris set the pace in the final practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, edging Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by a mere 0.001 seconds. Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari, just 0.117s adrift, as the top four cars were separated by less than two tenths of a second.

Why it matters:

The ultra-close margins at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez suggest a tightly contested qualifying is ahead. McLaren and Mercedes appear to have the edge, but Ferrari’s Leclerc and Oscar Piastri’s fourth-place McLaren are within striking distance, setting up a potential four-way fight for pole.

The details:

• Norris clocked a 1:17.600s on his 26th lap, narrowly denying Antonelli the top spot.
• Leclerc (+0.117s) and Piastri (+0.195s) completed the top four, with Max Verstappen fifth (+0.351s) in the Red Bull.
• Lewis Hamilton was sixth (+0.469s), while George Russell (+0.507s) and Isack Hadjar (+0.509s) followed closely.
• Liam Lawson led the Racing Bulls in ninth, with rookie Arvid Lindblad completing the top ten.
• At the back, Gabriel Bortoleto and Sergio Pérez recorded only two and one laps respectively, without setting a representative time.

What's next:

Qualifying will determine the grid for Sunday’s race, and with such small gaps, every tenth will count. Teams will also need to manage the thin air and high track temperatures, which could shuffle the order.