Charles Leclerc asserted his dominance in FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix, clocking the fastest time of the session to lead the field. The Ferrari driver outpaced Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by 0.659 seconds, signaling strong form for the Italian as he prepares to clinch his first Formula One world championship. While Leclerc focused on race pace, the session highlighted the critical stakes for his rival, with Antonelli needing just a ninth-place finish on Sunday to secure the title regardless of other results.
Ferrari star sets the pace as Antonelli edges closer to historic title
The championship math remains tight but favorable for the young Mercedes driver. Only a victory by his team-mate George Russell or Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton can theoretically prevent Antonelli from becoming champion. Even in those scenarios, Antonelli’s requirements remain modest: he needs 10th place if Hamilton wins and ninth if Russell takes the checkered flag. This low threshold underscores Antonelli’s current lead and the pressure now shifting to the top contenders to deliver a perfect performance.
Strategic decisions shaped the session dynamics, with Mercedes using the opportunity to run a mandatory rookie session, fielding reserve Frederik Vesti in Russell’s car. Vesti finished third, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who was fourth quickest. Many teams opted for this slot because the dirty track surface in FP1 at Mexico City is traditionally unrepresentative of race conditions. Notably, Ferrari was the only team to have both race drivers on track, allowing Leclerc and Hamilton to gather crucial data without rookie interruptions.
Source: BBC Sport
