Key Highlights:
- Charles Leclerc set the fastest times in both Friday practice sessions in Mexico, leading FP1 with a 1m18.128s and FP2 with a 1m17.827s.
- Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur remains cautious, pointing to extreme altitude, dangerous bumps before Turn 1, and the team’s qualifying drop-off the previous week in Austin.
- Lewis Hamilton suffered an engine failure during FP2 and rejected George Russell’s theory that Ferrari holds a decisive turbocharger advantage at high altitude.
Leclerc Paces Friday Running at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has moved to temper expectations for the Mexico Grand Prix, despite Charles Leclerc establishing an early benchmark at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez by sweeping both Friday practice sessions. Leclerc headed the timesheet in Free Practice 1 with a lap of 1m18.128s before trimming that time down to 1m17.827s during the second session.
Teammate Lewis Hamilton demonstrated competitive pace alongside Leclerc, securing fourth place in the opening running—finishing 0.738 seconds behind the sister Ferrari. Hamilton retained a place within the top five during Free Practice 2 until an engine failure midway through the afternoon brought his session to an abrupt halt.
Vasseur Warns of Circuit Bumps and Austin Parallels
Despite the encouraging headline lap times, Vasseur urged caution, remembering the frustration of the previous race weekend in Austin. At the United States Grand Prix, Ferrari led every practice session before slipping to fourth and fifth in qualifying, which ultimately translated to second- and fourth-place race results. Leclerc attributed that previous drop to rapid track evolution, while Hamilton cited difficulties with tyre management in Q3.
Speaking on Friday, Vasseur addressed the technical demands of the high-altitude Mexican venue:
“I don’t have to be confident or not. We have to work, we have to try to get the best for tomorrow.”
“Conditions are mega extreme, [more than] we knew before with the altitude. It’s a challenge for us, but also for the others. It means that we have a lot of work to do tonight.”
“It’s mega bumpy, probably a bit too much before Turn 1. It’s almost dangerous. We’ll have to do something tonight.”
Advertisement
“Overall I think that it was a good start of the weekend, but there’s still a long way to go.”
Setup Challenges and Downforce Quirks at High Altitude
The low-grip surface in Mexico City traditionally undergoes significant track evolution across a grand prix weekend. With runaway championship leader Mercedes and a resurgent Red Bull demonstrating consistent form, Ferrari is well aware that practice pace does not guarantee pole position.
Vasseur noted that all teams will inevitably adapt their setups to the thin air:
“Everybody will improve, everybody will fine-tune the package with the altitude.”
“It’s true that it’s completely extreme compared to what we have to face and the fact that for the drivers to come with this level of downforce in Mexico, it’s a challenge.”
“They were used to having the biggest wing of the season. I think the delta compared to last year is much smaller in Monza than in Monaco or Mexico, and it’s even more of a challenge for them.”
Hamilton Dismisses Mercedes Turbocharger Theory
The Mexico City venue has been targeted as an opportunity for the Maranello-based squad to claim a third victory in 2026, building upon Hamilton’s triumph in Barcelona and Leclerc’s win at Silverstone. Due to the high altitude, turbochargers must work harder; theoretical speculation suggested the smaller turbo on Ferrari’s SF-26 would produce less lag and deliver a distinct competitive edge. Mercedes driver George Russell leaned into that assessment, labelling Ferrari as the pre-weekend favourite.
However, Hamilton dismissed the narrative entirely after his curtailed FP2 running:
“I don’t really agree on the turbo thing,” said the seven-time world champion. “If you look at the speeds to the Mercedes and the Red Bull, they’re still massively quicker at the end of the straights, like they are every race.”
“The turbo is not making a difference. It’s still pulling a lot more at the end of straights.”
“I think we’re still losing a good two or three tenths. But the car is behaving well. Our car works pretty well.”
Why This Matters
The Mexico Grand Prix presents a unique aerodynamic and mechanical challenge due to its elevation over 2,200 metres above sea level. While low air density reduces outright downforce and complicates cooling, straight-line performance remains crucial down the long run to Turn 1. With Mercedes leading the campaign and Red Bull remaining a constant threat, Ferrari must convert Friday potential into Saturday qualifying execution—avoiding the setup missteps that unravelled their initial pace in Austin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ferrari downplaying its practice performance in Mexico?
Ferrari experienced a similar trend at the preceding round in Austin, where the team topped every practice session before dropping down the order during qualifying due to track evolution and tyre preparation issues. Additionally, team boss Fred Vasseur highlighted dangerous bumps ahead of Turn 1 and extreme high-altitude conditions that require substantial setup refinement.
What problem did Lewis Hamilton encounter during Friday practice?
After finishing fourth in Free Practice 1, Hamilton was running inside the top five during Free Practice 2 when an engine failure cut his running short midway through the session.
Does Ferrari have a turbocharger advantage at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez?
While rivals such as Mercedes driver George Russell suggested Ferrari’s smaller turbo design provides an advantage at altitude, Lewis Hamilton disputed the claim, stating that Red Bull and Mercedes remain significantly faster at the end of the straightaways.
