2026 Mexico City GP: Free‑Practice Results Show Strong Early Pace
Teams set the pace in Mexico City’s first two practice sessions, with Mercedes and Red Bull leading the charts.
In the opening days of the 2026 Formula 1 season, the Circuit of the Americas in Mexico City delivered a showcase of speed and strategy during its free‑practice sessions. According to Motorsport Week, the first session (FP1) saw Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clock the fastest lap at 1:24.567, followed closely by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who set a 1:24.689. The gap between the two front‑row teams was a mere 0.122 seconds, underscoring the fierce competition that will define the race weekend.
Motorsport Week also reported that the second practice (FP2) was dominated by Mercedes, with Hamilton again posting the quickest time of 1:24.312. Verstappen’s best lap in FP2 was 1:24.421, keeping the Red Bull driver within a tenth of a second of his teammate. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris were the only other drivers to break the 1:25 barrier, recording 1:24.856 and 1:24.973 respectively. These times suggest that the teams are already fine‑tuning their setups for the high‑downforce demands of the circuit’s long straight and sweeping corners.
RacingNews365 confirmed the same trend, noting that the two practice sessions highlighted the importance of tyre management for the 2026 season’s new regulations. Red Bull’s strategy team appeared to favour a softer tyre compound in FP1 to maximise early speed, while Mercedes opted for a more balanced approach in FP2, which may pay dividends in the race. The data also hinted at a slight advantage for the front‑row cars on the track’s long straight, where aerodynamics play a crucial role.
For Indian fans, the Mexico City Grand Prix will be broadcast live on FanCode from 3:00 PM IST. The race is scheduled to start at 1:00 PM local time, giving viewers ample time to catch the full weekend’s action. With the early practice sessions already hinting at a tight battle between Red Bull and Mercedes, the race promises to be a thrilling spectacle for fans across India and beyond.
Source: Motorsport Week, RacingNews365