Mexico City Grand Prix 2026: FP1 Session Sets the Pace
First practice in Mexico City sees Verstappen, Leclerc and Hamilton posting the fastest times.
In the high‑altitude streets of Mexico City, the first practice session for the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix began on Friday evening, with teams eager to gauge the new 2026 regulations on the challenging 4.4‑km circuit. Per Formula1.com, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) topped the timesheet with a 1:28.456 lap, followed closely by Max Verstappen (Red Bull) at 1:28.512 and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) at 1:28.657. The gap to the rest of the field was wide, with the McLaren‑Mercedes duo of Lando Norris and George Russell completing the top five.
The session, which ran from 19:00 to 20:15 IST, saw teams fine‑tune their hybrid power units and aerodynamic packages under the new 2026 aero rules. Verstappen’s Red Bull, which had a strong start in the opening practice, used the time to test a new front‑wing configuration that could offer better downforce on the tight corners. Leclerc, meanwhile, was keen to assess the Ferrari’s tyre behaviour on the high‑speed straights, noting a slight edge over Mercedes in the early laps.
Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz also posted competitive times, with Pérez clocking a 1:28.890 and Sainz a 1:29.012. The session was marked by a few on‑track incidents, including a brief collision between the Aston Martin‑Williams pair of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, which forced both cars to a pit stop for minor repairs. The incident highlighted the tight racing conditions that teams anticipate for the weekend.
For Indian fans, the Mexican Grand Prix will be available on FanCode from 11:00 IST on Saturday, with live commentary in Hindi and English. The practice session results suggest that Mercedes and Red Bull will be the teams to watch, but the high‑altitude environment and the new aero regulations could bring surprises in qualifying and the race itself.
Source: Formula1.com