Leclerc tops first practice at Mexico City Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in first practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix on 30 October 2026, finishing 0.659 seconds quicker than Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.

The Italian is poised to clinch his first world title, with a ninth-place finish on Sunday sufficient to secure the championship regardless of any other results. Only a victory by his team-mate George Russell or Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton can theoretically stop Antonelli becoming champion on Sunday; even then Antonelli would need ninth place if Russell wins and 10th if Hamilton does.

Mercedes reserve Frederik Vesti was third quickest while driving Russell's car, ending the session ahead of Hamilton in fourth. Mercedes were one of 10 teams to use this session for one of their mandatory rookie runs, and only Ferrari had both race drivers in their cars. Many teams choose Mexico City for rookie running because the first session is traditionally unrepresentative as a result of the dirty track surface.

Japanese Ayumu Iwasa, standing in for Max Verstappen at Red Bull, was fifth fastest. He was followed by Alpine's Pierre Gasly in sixth and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso in seventh, with McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Haas driver Oliver Bearman and Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad completing the top 10.

Briton Freddie Slater's first outing at a grand prix weekend for Audi was disrupted by reliability problems that limited him to 14 laps — about half a standard mileage. He returned for the final 20 minutes or so and set the 19th fastest time, placing just behind fellow Briton Luke Browning.

American Colton Herta was 22nd in the session; Cadillac are considering promoting Herta to F1 next year in place of Valtteri Bottas. The FIA says Herta has now done enough miles to score the 40 points he needs to secure the superlicence required to race in F1.

Depending on how Sunday unfolds, Antonelli can clinch the championship at the Mexico City Grand Prix under the scenarios described earlier.