Friday’s practice sessions at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix saw Charles Leclerc set the pace, leading both FP1 and FP2 for Ferrari. While Leclerc demonstrated strong speed, his teammate Lewis Hamilton encountered a power unit issue during the second session, which limited his track time. The day highlighted a mix of promising performances and technical challenges across the grid as teams adapted to the unique conditions at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
McLaren’s Lando Norris showed competitive pace, finishing close behind Leclerc in FP2. Rookie Leonardo Fornaroli made his FP1 debut with McLaren, gaining valuable experience despite some errors. Mercedes drivers had a solid day, with Kimi Antonelli and Fred Vesti running in FP1 and George Russell posting the third-fastest time in FP2. However, Mercedes faced ongoing challenges related to car stability and cooling. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen missed FP1 and suffered floor damage after a collision with Liam Lawson in FP2. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar improved in the afternoon session, and Ayumu Iwasa had a solid FP1 debut.
Racing Bulls introduced Nikola Tsolov in FP1, who delivered promising lap times. Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson maintained consistent top-10 pace, although Lawson’s incident with Verstappen caused damage to both cars. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly secured top-10 finishes in both sessions, while Franco Colapinto struggled after missing FP1. Gabriele Mini took part in FP1 with a focus on aerodynamic testing. Haas encountered power unit issues with Ollie Bearman in FP1, and Esteban Ocon returned in FP2, reporting power steering difficulties. Bearman also required software updates during the day.
Aston Martin’s Jak Crawford faced an ERS issue that cut his FP1 short. Fernando Alonso maintained consistent top-12 pace, while Lance Stroll struggled with the car’s drivability. Audi’s day was disrupted by Nico Hulkenberg locking up and Freddie Slater running with a cooling fan left on, which cost track time. Gabriel Bortoleto missed most of FP2 due to car issues. Williams drivers Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, and Luke Browning completed clean sessions but lacked the pace to challenge the midfield, focusing instead on setup experiments. Cadillac’s Sergio Perez drove despite feeling unwell, with Valtteri Bottas returning after missing FP1 and Colton Herta enjoying his FP1 run.
Pirelli reported improved track conditions compared to last year, noting significant degradation on the softer tyre compounds. This suggests that teams may face varied strategic approaches during the race. Drivers and teams also emphasized the challenges posed by Mexico City’s altitude and low grip levels, factors that continue to influence car performance and tyre behaviour.
The feedback from Friday’s sessions underlined a weekend of mixed fortunes and technical hurdles for several teams, alongside encouraging signs from some rookies and established drivers. While Ferrari showed strong pace through Leclerc, the power unit issues for Hamilton and others remain a concern. Red Bull’s collision and subsequent damage will require attention, and teams like Mercedes and Haas are managing stability and power unit challenges. The evolving tyre situation adds another layer of complexity as the weekend progresses.
Friday’s practice sessions provided a clear snapshot of the ongoing technical and performance dynamics at play in Mexico City. The teams’ comments and session results reflect a competitive field adapting to the circuit’s specific demands, with further developments expected as qualifying and the race approach.