If you ever needed proof that Formula 1 is a sport where the script is written in pencil, not ink, look no further than the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix’s Free Practice 1. In a city where the air is thin but the drama is thick, FP1 delivered a session that left engineers scratching their heads, fans on their feet, and a few drivers wondering if they’d accidentally signed up for a telenovela instead of a Grand Prix.
- The Thin Air of Expectation
- The Numbers That Mattered: FP1 Results Table
- Ferrari’s Friday Flourish—But Don’t Pop the Tequila Yet
- The Antonelli Ascendancy: Rookie, Not Novice
- Sauber’s Surprise: Hulkenberg and Bortoleto in the Spotlight
- Red Bull’s Rookie Gamble: Lindblad Steps Up
- The Championship Cauldron: Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen
- Rookies, Replacements, and the Next Generation
- The Ghosts of FP1 Past
- The Human Drama: Pressure, Pride, and the Mexican Crowd
- Waste a Bit More Time
The Thin Air of Expectation
Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is a place where engines gasp for breath and brakes beg for mercy. At 2,200 meters above sea level, the circuit is notorious for turning even the most reliable machinery into a temperamental diva. Historically, FP1 here is the first true glimpse of race pace, as the track rubbers in and teams finally show their hands—at least, as much as they ever do on a Friday.
But 2025’s FP1 was always going to be more than a technical exercise. With the championship battle boiling over—Oscar Piastri clinging to a 14-point lead over Lando Norris, and Max Verstappen, the Dutchman who refuses to read the obituary of his title hopes, just 40 points adrift—every lap, every sector, every twitch of oversteer was loaded with meaning.
The Numbers That Mattered: FP1 Results Table
Let’s not bury the lede. Here are the top 10 from FP1, as the sun set over the Mexican capital and the tension rose like the city’s infamous smog:
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Leclerc | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 1:18.380 |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes AMG Petronas | 1:18.487 |
| 3 | Nico Hulkenberg | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1:18.760 |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren F1 Team | 1:18.784 |
| 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber | 1:18.916 |
| 6 | Arvid Lindblad | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1:18.997 |
| 7 | Esteban Ocon | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team | 1:19.038 |
| 8 | Yuki Tsunoda | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1:19.090 |
| 9 | Franco Colapinto | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 1:19.331 |
| 10 | Alex Albon | Atlassian Williams Racing | 1:19.384 |
For the full session breakdown and live updates, see the detailed coverage at Crash.net.
Ferrari’s Friday Flourish—But Don’t Pop the Tequila Yet
Charles Leclerc topping the timesheets in FP1 is as familiar as overpriced nachos at the circuit. The Monegasque’s one-lap pace has never been in doubt, but as any seasoned observer will tell you, Ferrari’s Friday heroics are often followed by Sunday heartbreak. Still, Leclerc’s 1:18.380 was a statement—one that put him a tenth clear of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, the Italian rookie who seems determined to make “the next big thing” more than just a paddock cliché.
Yes, he’s fast. So was Jean Alesi. Look how that turned out.
Pedro, 2023, after Leclerc’s pole in Baku. Some things never change.
But before the tifosi start booking flights to Monza for a title celebration, let’s remember: Ferrari’s Friday pace in Mexico has been a recurring mirage. In 2022, Leclerc was fastest in FP1, only to finish a distant fourth on Sunday. The thin air flatters their power unit, but the race is won in tyre management and strategy—two areas where Ferrari’s history is, shall we say, “colorful.”
The Antonelli Ascendancy: Rookie, Not Novice
Kimi Antonelli’s P2 in FP1 is the kind of result that makes you check the timing screens twice. The Mercedes prodigy, still in his teens, has adapted to Formula 1 with a composure that belies his age. In a session where veterans struggled with track evolution and gusty winds, Antonelli was unflappable, his 1:18.487 just a whisker off Leclerc.
It’s worth recalling that Mexico has a habit of revealing the true mettle of rookies. In 2017, Esteban Ocon outqualified his vastly more experienced teammate. In 2021, Yuki Tsunoda made Q3 here in his debut season. Antonelli’s performance is a reminder that youth, when combined with talent and a Mercedes underneath you, is a potent cocktail.
Sauber’s Surprise: Hulkenberg and Bortoleto in the Spotlight
If you had Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto in your FP1 top five bingo card, congratulations—you’re either a genius or you’ve been spending too much time in the Mexican sun. Sauber’s double act in P3 and P5 was the session’s biggest surprise, especially given the team’s struggles earlier in the season.
Hulkenberg, the perennial “what if” of Formula 1, delivered a lap that was both aggressive and precise. Bortoleto, meanwhile, continues to impress in his rookie campaign, showing the kind of adaptability that makes team principals take notice. Whether this pace is real or a Friday illusion remains to be seen, but for a team starved of headlines, it was a welcome boost.
Red Bull’s Rookie Gamble: Lindblad Steps Up
With Max Verstappen sitting out FP1 and Arvid Lindblad stepping into the Red Bull for FP1, all eyes were on the young Brit. Lindblad’s P6, ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, was a quietly impressive result—especially given the pressure of filling Verstappen’s shoes in front of a global audience.
For a team in the thick of a title fight, giving a rookie valuable track time is a calculated risk. But Red Bull’s confidence in Lindblad was rewarded, as he kept his nose clean and delivered consistent laps. The real test, of course, will come in qualifying and the race, but for now, Lindblad can savor a job well done.
The Championship Cauldron: Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen
Oscar Piastri’s P4 in FP1 was solid, if unspectacular. The Australian knows that with Verstappen closing in and Norris breathing down his neck, every session is a psychological battle as much as a technical one. McLaren’s focus was clearly on long-run pace, with both drivers running heavy fuel loads and eschewing glory runs.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s absence from the top of the timesheets was less about pace and more about Red Bull’s methodical approach. With a raft of upgrades on the RB21, the team spent much of FP1 evaluating new parts and cooling solutions—a necessity at this altitude, where engines run hotter and tempers run shorter.
For a detailed technical breakdown of Red Bull’s upgrades, see the analysis at Motorsport.com.
Rookies, Replacements, and the Next Generation
FP1 in Mexico was notable for the sheer number of rookies and stand-ins. With nine regular drivers sitting out FP1, the second session was the first real chance for the grid to settle into its usual rhythm. Frederik Vesti, standing in for George Russell at Mercedes, was the fastest rookie in 11th—a respectable showing that will do his future prospects no harm.
The influx of young talent is a reminder that Formula 1 is in the midst of a generational shift. As veterans like Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg continue to defy the passage of time, the next wave is already making its presence felt. The question is not if, but when, one of these rookies will make the leap from promising to proven.
The Ghosts of FP1 Past
If you’re looking for a pattern in Mexico’s FP1 sessions, you’ll find it’s a session that often flatters to deceive. In 2019, Alexander Albon topped FP1 for Red Bull, only to crash out in the race. In 2021, Mercedes looked lost on Friday, then locked out the front row on Saturday. The lesson? Take nothing at face value.
Let’s wait for the third race before calling anyone a legend.
Pedro, after every rookie’s first good Friday.
FP1 is a session for gathering data, not glory. But every so often, it throws up a result that hints at a changing of the guard—or at least, a weekend where the established order is up for grabs.
The Human Drama: Pressure, Pride, and the Mexican Crowd
No discussion of the Mexico City Grand Prix would be complete without mentioning the fans. The Foro Sol stadium section, packed to the rafters, creates an atmosphere unlike any other on the calendar. For local hero Pato O’Ward, running in FP1 for McLaren, the cheers were deafening—even if his lap times were less so.
The pressure on drivers here is immense. The altitude saps power, the walls are unforgiving, and the crowd expects a show. For rookies, it’s a baptism of fire. For veterans, it’s a reminder that in Formula 1, you’re only as good as your last lap.
Waste a Bit More Time
If you’re still hungry for more Mexico City GP drama, here are some links to keep you entertained (and perhaps a little more informed):
- Full FP1 and FP1 live updates and results: Crash.net
- Technical analysis of Red Bull’s upgrades: Motorsport.com
- Latest news and live reactions: RacingNews365
- For a running commentary and more, check out the live blog at The Independent
And if you want to see what the fuss is about, here’s a YouTube link to the latest practice highlights and analysis: F1 Mexico GP live: Start time and updates with Verstappen out to threaten Norris-Piastri title battle
