Mexico City GP 2026: Practice Sessions Reveal Red Bull Pace and Ferrari Trouble

The first two free‑practice sessions at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix have given a clear early picture of the weekend’s hierarchy. According to the official Formula 1 website, Red Bull Racing topped both FP1 and FP2, with Max Verstappen posting the fastest lap in each session. Verstappen’s best time of 1:15.342 in FP2 was just 0.08 seconds quicker than his own FP1 lap, underscoring the team’s one‑lap speed on the high‑altitude Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Session breakdown

• FP1 (Thursday, 12 Oct): Verstappen led the field, followed by teammate Sergio Pérez, who was 0.24 seconds slower. Mercedes’ George Russell managed a respectable P4, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc could only manage P7, indicating early setup challenges.
• FP2 (Thursday, 12 Oct): Verstappen again set the benchmark, with Pérez again second. Mercedes improved, with Russell climbing to P3 and Lewis Hamilton to P5, but Ferrari’s performance dipped further – Leclerc fell to P9 and Carlos Sainz to P11, according to Motorsport Week’s timing sheet.

Both sessions were marked by the typical grip‑loss issues that the thin, high‑altitude track can cause. Teams spent considerable time on tyre temperature management, especially on the medium compound, which proved to be the most consistent across the two days. The data suggests that Red Bull’s aerodynamic package is already well‑suited to the circuit’s long straights and fast corners, while Ferrari appears to be wrestling with a balance problem.

For Indian fans, the practice sessions aired live on FanCode with commentary tailored for the local audience. The broadcast highlighted the importance of the Mexican altitude, noting that engine performance can be affected and that teams often run richer fuel mixtures to compensate. The next day, Saturday’s qualifying will be the decisive session, and the race itself is slated for Sunday, 14 Oct, at 2:00 pm IST (09:30 GMT), also on FanCode.

Source: Formula 1, Motorsport Week