Lando Norris edged out Kimi Antonelli by a razor-thin 0.001s in final practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix, igniting a three-team battle for pole position. The intense duel between McLaren and Mercedes overshadowed Ferrari, as both rival teams outpaced Charles Leclerc by a tenth of a second. This performance shift signals a significant competitive edge for the silver and papaya squad as they prepare for the high-stakes qualifying session.
McLaren and Mercedes expose Ferrari’s pace deficit as title decider looms
The stakes could not be higher for Antonelli, who is on the brink of securing the Formula 1 drivers’ title. The Mercedes driver needs only a top-nine finish in Sunday’s race to clinch the championship, adding immense pressure to his weekend. Meanwhile, Red Bull appears to have fallen out of the pole hunt, with Max Verstappen trailing the pace by 0.351s. This gap suggests the Austrian may struggle to challenge for the front row in the critical Saturday session.
Viewers can watch the decisive qualifying action live on Sky Sports F1 at 9pm, with build-up coverage starting at 8pm. Sunday’s race follows at 8pm, preceded by build-up from 6.30pm. With Oscar Piastri securing fourth in practice, the grid is set for a chaotic and thrilling weekend where every millisecond will determine the final standings in the title race.
Source: Sky Sports
