Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in Friday’s first practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix, while Kimi Antonelli returned from illness to finish second.
The Italian missed Thursday’s media day to recover from a viral illness. However, he returned to the track for the opening session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Leclerc set the fastest time of one minute 18.128 seconds. Antonelli finished 0.659 seconds behind the Ferrari driver.
The Mercedes driver leads the championship standings by 123 points ahead of teammate George Russell. He needs only two points on Sunday to secure the title and become Formula One’s youngest world champion.
Leclerc leads as Antonelli returns
Russell sat out the session as Mercedes reserve driver Fred Vesti took his place. Vesti finished third, 0.733 seconds behind Leclerc.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton came fourth, while Red Bull’s Ayumu Iwasa finished fifth. The Japanese driver replaced four-time world champion Max Verstappen for the session.
Pierre Gasly, Fernando Alonso, Oscar Piastri, Ollie Bearman and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
Tsolov reports leg problem during practice.
Meanwhile, Bulgarian Formula Two title contender Nikola Tsolov reported a problem with his right leg during his outing for Racing Bulls.
“Running out of blood in my right leg. I cannot feel my right leg. I think the seat is compressing my leg and my blood stopped,” Tsolov said over team radio.
The Bulgarian driver, who replaced Liam Lawson, finished 12th behind Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane described the outing as a “textbook first session”. He praised Tsolov for keeping the car intact and providing useful feedback.
Slater makes F1 practice debut
Elsewhere, British teenager Freddie Slater made his Formula One practice debut for Audi. However, mechanics left a cooling fan attached to his car as he headed onto the track. He completed 14 laps.
Aston Martin reserve driver Jak Crawford also stopped on the track with a suspected power unit problem. His stoppage triggered a virtual safety car.
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