La Formula 1 back on track, after the first free practice, with FP2 of the Mexican GP: Max Verstappen finishes first, ahead of Leclerc and Antonelli. This session saw the weekend's real stars take to the track, after many rookies had taken their places in the early afternoon.
Green light for FP2: back on track
Ready, steady, go, immediately bad news At Mercedes. Antonelli reports a problem with his car and after a few minutes of apprehension, he's told to return to the pits. All the drivers take to the track, most on medium tires, and the times begin to drop.
After 20 minutes the best time of FP1 is already lowered, always by Charles Leclerc. Norris, Hamilton, Verstappen, and Piastri follow, all three tenths of a second behind in this FP2 in Mexico; while the first drivers on red tires begin to take to the track. Albon moves up to seventh place, on a lap where he misses the final corner. he's going to crash with the left rear tyre: nothing serious for the Thai driver who can continue.
Antonelli, having resolved the problems with his Mercedes, returned to the track and immediately closed in on Leclerc, moving up to second place, still on yellow tyres.
In Mexico, the red tyre is fitted and Verstappen flies
Once you get past the halfway point of these FP2s in Mexico, all the big names take to the track with the red tyre: after the first attempt for everyone, Max Verstappen leads the standings, followed by Leclerc, Antonelli, Norris, and Hamilton. The championship leader is still struggling. Oscar Piastri protagonist of a dirty lap, with many errors and which saw him climb only to twelfth position. McLaren seems to be unstable and difficult to drive, unlike the very precise Red Bull, both in slow and fast corners. Tsunoda, with his seventh fastest time, also shows how the Austrian team has improved significantly.
The final 20 minutes are dedicated to race pace. Piastri is slower than his teammate even in the simulation ahead of Sunday: Norris laps at a very high and consistent pace, while the Australian struggles. The battle seems very close. lockout, with Verstappen, Ferrari and Mercedes also showing interesting and consistent pace. Norris' stint in these FP2s is pulling a sigh of relief at McLaren in view of the Mexican GP, even if Verstappen is lurking.
These FP2 for the Mexican GP ended with the best time signed by Max Verstappen with a 1.17.392. Completing the top 10 are Leclerc, a tenth and a half behind the Dutchman, Antonelli, Norris, Hamilton, Russell, Tsunoda, Alonso, Sainz, and Stroll. FP3 now begins at 19:30 PM, while qualifying is at 23:00 PM.
