Max Verstappen topped both training sessions for Red Bull on Friday; Lando Norris takes second while Lewis Hamilton falls off the pace in seventh; watch Practice Three live on Sky Sports F1 on Saturday at 6.30pm, followed by qualifying at 10pm
Last updated: 10/28/23 12:37 PM
Max Verstappen completed a practice double at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Friday as Lando Norris emerged as the world champion’s most likely pole challenger.
Verstappen, who is looking for a record 16th win of the season, gave Red Bull a perfect start to the weekend by posting a 1:18.686, leaving McLaren’s Lando Norris just over a tenth of a second behind him.
Charles Leclerc finished third for Ferrari, while Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, spurred on by the hugely supportive crowd at his home race, finished fourth.
There were surprise successes either side of him, with Valtteri Bottas fourth for Alfa Romeo and Daniel Ricciardo sixth for AlphaTauri.
After finishing 11th in the first practice session, Lewis Hamilton once again failed to realize his hopes of challenging Red Bull as the seven-time world champion finished seventh.
His Mercedes teammate George Russell finished just 10th, having previously been one of five drivers to sit out the first practice session as teams took the opportunity to fulfill their mandatory young driver sessions.
While Mercedes may be disappointed not to have shown more speed following their upgrades in Austin last weekend, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez’s unique high elevation means significant adjustments are likely to take place overnight that could change the pecking order.
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Former strategist Bernie Collins explains the impact the high altitude will have on the cars at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Also out of position was Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who finished only eleventh.
Further back, Aston Martin had a torrid day as Lance Stroll finished 18th and Fernando Alonso 20th, with the Spaniard slipping away as he struggled in a car that has deteriorated since appearing to be Red Bull’s biggest rival during the first half of the season.
Verstappen faster ‘than expected’ | Mercedes impressed
After saying on Thursday that he thought the circuit would pose a challenge for a car that has won all but one of the 18 Grands Prix this season, Verstappen somewhat contradicted his prediction by spending most of Friday at the top of the timesheet .
Although it was an unorthodox F1 training day, with the young drivers competing in FP1 and prototype development tires not being used exclusively in both sessions, the Dutchman established himself as the favorite for qualifying on Saturday.
“Of course we look competitive, so that’s good,” said Verstappen. “There are always a few things that can be improved, but overall it’s a positive start to the weekend. Probably a little better than I expected, so that’s always good.”
But unlike the two sprint weekends preceding this event, where teams had just 60 minutes to set up their cars for the competitive action, overnight adjustments are likely to play a key role.
Hamilton was in high spirits on Thursday, rejecting suggestions that the excessive plank wear – resulting from his car being too low to the ground – which disqualified him from second in Austin had been a major factor in an impressive performance.
Mercedes has often managed to make gains between the second and third training sessions throughout the season and Hamilton will undoubtedly continue working until Friday evening to get the most out of the W14.
Like Verstappen, Norris had also warned that the circuit’s slow corners might not suit his McLaren, but he produced another impressive performance that suggested he could be in with a chance of a fifth consecutive podium finish on Sunday.
GP of Mexico City practices two timesheet
| Director | Team | Time |
| 1. Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:18,686 |
| 2. Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.119 |
| 3. Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.266 |
| 4. Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | +0.269 |
| 5. Sergio Perez | Red Bull | +0.302 |
| 6. Daniel Ricciardo | AlphaTauri | +0.316 |
| 7.Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +0.338 |
| 8. Esteban Ocon | Alps | +0.391 |
| 9. Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.477 |
| 10. George Russel | Mercedes | +0.541 |
| 11. Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | +0.571 |
| 12. Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | +0.604 |
| 13.Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | +0.729 |
| 14. Alex Albon | Williams | +0.760 |
| 15. Nico Hulkenberg | Hare | +0.849 |
| 16. Pierre Gasly | Alps | +0.956 |
| 17. Logan Sargeant | Williams | +1,214 |
| 18. Lance walk | Aston Martin | +1,389 |
| 19. Kevin Magnussen | Hare | +1,426 |
| 20. Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +1,740 |
When can you only watch the Mexico City GP live on Sky Sports F1?
Saturday
6.15 pm: GP practice three of Mexico City
9 p.m.: Mexico City GP qualifying build-up (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
10 p.m.: Mexico City GP qualifying (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
Sunday
6:30 PM: Grand Prix Sunday Mexico City GP build-up (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
8 p.m.: The GRAND PRIZE OF MEXICO CITY (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
10 p.m.: Checkered flag: Mexico City GP
F1 is in Mexico for the middle leg of the US triple header. Watch the entire Mexico City Grand Prix weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday, with Sunday’s race at 8pm. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW