A razor‑thin margin decided the final practice leaderboard in Mexico City, with McLaren’s Lando Norris just edging Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli.
Key points
- Lando Norris edged Kimi Antonelli by 0.001 seconds in final practice, creating a close‑fought qualifying outlook.
- Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson carry a grid‑place penalty after a “unacceptable” clash in second practice.
- Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli can clinch the Drivers’ Championship with a top‑nine finish on Sunday.
- Haas replaced Esteban Ocon with reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa without providing a reason.
In the final practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, McLaren’s Lando Norris posted the fastest lap, beating Mercedes‑affiliated rookie Kimi Antonelli by a single thousandth of a second, according to Sky Sports. The marginal win sets up a highly competitive qualifying session scheduled for 9 p.m. local time on Saturday.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who had topped both Friday practice sessions, was a tenth of a second slower than Norris in the soft‑tyre runs, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri rounded out the top four. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, still dealing with a one‑grid‑place penalty for a collision with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson in second practice, was 0.351 seconds off the pace.
Practice showdown
The weekend also saw a surprise driver swap at Haas: reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa replaced Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the event, with the team offering no explanation for the change. Ocon, who is set to leave Haas at the end of the season, was not reported to be ill, and his teammate Oliver Bearman finished six tenths of a second ahead of Hirakawa in final practice.
Antonelli, who is currently second in the Drivers’ Championship, needs only a top‑nine finish on Sunday to clinch the title, a scenario highlighted by Sky Sports. The young Mercedes driver’s near‑pole performance underscores the tight championship battle heading into the race.
Grid penalties and team changes
Sky Sports F1’s Jamie Chadwick noted that Ferrari “still can be in the fight but it looked challenging,” while former driver Anthony Davidson described the Scuderia’s potential as “higher, but it didn’t feel like they managed to get the potential out of it early on the soft‑tyre runs.” Both analysts suggested a three‑team contest among Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes for the front of the grid.
Qualifying will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with a build‑up show starting at 8 p.m. and the race itself slated for 8 p.m. on Sunday, offering fans a full weekend of high‑stakes action.
Reader questions
Why do Verstappen and Lawson have a grid penalty?
Both drivers received a one‑grid‑place penalty after colliding in second practice, an incident the stewards called “unacceptable” and the drivers described as “unnecessary and clumsy.”
Who topped the final practice session in Mexico City?
Lando Norris posted the fastest lap, beating Kimi Antonelli by 0.001 seconds.
What does Kimi Antonelli need to win the championship?
Antonelli needs to finish within the top nine positions in the Sunday race to secure the Drivers’ Championship, according to the Sky Sports report.
Source: skysports.com