Overview
- Charles Leclerc led both Friday practice sessions at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, posting a 1:18.128 in TL1 and a 1:17.827 in TL2 to end the day fastest.
- Ten rookie drivers took part in TL1 to help teams comply with an FIA rule requiring inexperienced drivers to appear in four free-practice sessions per season.
- A collision between Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson in TL2 produced debris and a red flag, stopping the session and costing teams valuable running for set-up work.
- Several cars suffered technical problems that limited running: Gabriel Bortoleto spent most of TL2 in the pits and finished last, Lewis Hamilton stopped with a mechanical issue, Jak Crawford parked after a steering failure, and Audi addressed a cooling-system concern for Freddie Slater.
- The high-altitude, low-grip Mexico circuit amplifies the impact of lost practice time on tyre and aerodynamic setup, so Saturday's TL3 and qualifying will be crucial for teams to finalise race plans.