Mexico City Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc is fastest in the first practice

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc set the pace in the first practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix as nine teams were running rookie drivers.

Leclerc was 0.107 seconds faster than Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli in second place, while Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg was third behind McLaren championship leader Oscar Piastri.

None of Piastri’s title rivals, his teammate Lando Norris and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, participated in the first session.

Piastri leads Norris by 14 points with five races to go. Verstappen is 40 points away from the lead after three wins and second place in the past four races.

Norris was replaced by Mexican IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward, who finished 13th, while Red Bull’s Briton Arvid Lindblad drove Verstappen’s car.

Lindblad, who is expected to race for Racing Bulls next season, finished the session in sixth place, two places and 0.093 seconds faster than regular Red Bull rider Yuki Tsunoda.

Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoletto took fifth place, while Haas driver Esteban Ocon came in seventh place.

Behind Tsunoda in eighth, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Williams’ Alex Albon completed the top ten.

Lindblad and Racing Bulls Isack Hadjar spun at Turn 12, the corner that brings the drivers to the Foro Sol baseball field, where many fans are sitting.

Piastri got an exit from Isis late in the session without any damage.

Teams choose Mexico for one of their mandatory rookie sessions as the dusty track makes the session one of the least important of the season.