Leclerc Tops Mexico City FP1 as Rookie Drivers Make Their Mark

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Charles Leclerc set the pace in the first practice session for the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, clocking a fastest lap of 1:18.380 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

Leclerc’s time put him ahead of Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes and Nico Hulkenberg for Sauber, who completed the top three respectively. Several teams took the opportunity to field rookie drivers in accordance with regulations, meaning many familiar names spent time on the sidelines during the hour-long session.

Oscar Piastri, one of the key title contenders, ended the session fourth fastest but encountered a late slide at Turn 9 which prevented him from fully maximising a final flying lap.

Teams reported that track conditions evolved rapidly, with grip levels increasing as the session progressed — a factor that played into the hands of drivers who timed their runs well. The altitude of Mexico City and the thinner air at the venue also continued to influence car balance and tyre behaviour.

Looking ahead, the focus now turns to whether Leclerc and his Ferrari squad can translate this early pace into qualifying and race performance. Meanwhile, the young drivers who filled in during FP1 will step aside for the full-time starters, and the main field will begin their preparations for a key weekend in the title fight.