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Norris Dominates Final Mexican GP Practice Session
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Highlights
- Lando Norris led final practice with 1m16.633s lap time.
- Lewis Hamilton second, George Russell third in tightly packed session.
- Max Verstappen struggled with grip, finished sixth with lower power.
- Fernando Alonso limited laps, did not test soft tires.
- Sainz and Albon faced issues, finished 15th and 16th respectively.
- Session featured mistakes, tricky stadium section, and braking lock-ups.
Lando Norris tops final practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix with a 1m16.633s, establishing a clear reference ahead of qualifying at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
The McLaren driver ends 0.345s clear after a late soft-tyre run that stretched an otherwise compressed field.
Lewis Hamilton places second for Ferrari, with Mercedes’ George Russell third, the trio separated by less than six tenths in a session defined by fine margins.
Earlier runs featured frequent swaps as drivers explored power modes and tyre prep at altitude, before Norris’s qualifying simulation finally created separation.
Charles Leclerc is fourth, Oscar Piastri fifth, while Max Verstappen slips to sixth after grip complaints and a conservative power setting compared to Friday.
Norris’s 1m16.633s lap leaves him 0.345s clear at the top of FP3.
Errors punctuate the hour. Lock-ups into heavy stops cost time, and the stadium section proves especially punishing for drivers straying offline or encountering traffic.
Carlos Sainz briefly leads but overshoots Turn 1 on his final attempt, skating across the grass and ending 15th after an untidy closing phase.
Alex Albon suffers several offs in the stadium and reports a possible mechanical issue, limiting confidence and consigning him to 16th for Williams.
Fernando Alonso completes limited mileage for Aston Martin, skips the soft tyre, and ends slowest, reducing the team’s dataset for qualifying decisions.
Altitude reduces power and cooling headroom, amplifying braking demands and tyre warm-up sensitivity in Mexico City.
The competitive picture tightens behind McLaren. Ferrari shows single-lap promise with Hamilton and Leclerc, while Mercedes appears well-balanced through the medium-speed complexes.
Verstappen’s sixth should be contextualized. Red Bull often runs conservatively before qualifying, and improved grip with cooler temperatures could bring him back into contention.
Kimi Antonelli impresses in seventh, with Yuki Tsunoda ninth, underlining a congested midfield where execution on out-laps and tow usage may decide grid slots.
Track position in the stadium section will be crucial; expect queues and ruined laps if teams mistime runs.
Expect teams to trim fuel and open engine modes for qualifying, prioritizing braking stability into Turn 1 and clean tyre prep to maximize the first timed lap.
Norris holds the advantage on balance and confidence, but Hamilton and Verstappen remain the primary threats if conditions shift or traffic management improves.
Visual Summary
Can anyone close the gap before Quali?
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
