Image: from Formula 1 X @F1
By Benjamin Foster | Staff Writer with Agencies
The 2024 Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix got off to a thrilling start on Friday, with Charles Leclerc leading the way in the first free practice session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. The Ferrari driver set a blistering pace, clocking the fastest time of the session at 1’18.380 over 29 laps, finishing ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Sauber/Ferrari’s Nico Hülkenberg, who completed the top three.
Leclerc Shows Strength Early On
Leclerc’s time was a clear statement of intent, as the Monegasque driver, who has been in top form throughout the season, looked comfortable on the high-altitude circuit. Despite the usual challenges presented by the Mexican GP’s altitude, which affects engine performance and car balance, Leclerc managed to navigate the tricky conditions with finesse. His time was just 0.107 seconds faster than Antonelli, who finished in second with a time of 1’18.487.
Hülkenberg and Piastri Set Strong Times
Hülkenberg, who has had a solid start to his 2024 campaign, made a statement with a strong third-place finish, clocking in with 1’18.760. The Sauber/Ferrari driver, whose experience is crucial for the team, was just under 0.4 seconds off Leclerc’s leading time. Close behind, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri also showed his pace, ending the session in fourth with a lap time of 1’18.784.
Gabriel Bortoleto Shines in Fifth
In a standout performance, Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto impressed with his fifth-place finish, recording a personal best for the season with a time of 1’18.916. Bortoleto, who races for Sauber/Ferrari, was just 0.536 seconds behind Leclerc’s fastest time and is beginning to show why he is considered one of the rising stars of Formula 1.
Rounding Out the Top 10
Other notable performances came from Arvid Lindblad, who continued his strong development with Red Bull, setting the sixth-fastest time at 1’18.997. Esteban Ocon of Haas and Yuki Tsunoda from Red Bull followed closely behind in seventh and eighth, with times of 1’19.038 and 1’19.090, respectively.
The Full FP1 Results:
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1’18.380 (29 laps)
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1’18.487 (+0.107s) (35 laps)
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Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber/Ferrari) – 1’18.760 (+0.380s) (27 laps)
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1’18.784 (+0.404s) (31 laps)
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Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber/Ferrari) – 1’18.916 (+0.536s) (28 laps)
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Arvid Lindblad (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – 1’18.997 (+0.617s) (26 laps)
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Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari) – 1’19.038 (+0.658s) (29 laps)
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Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – 1’19.090 (+0.710s) (29 laps)
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Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Renault) – 1’19.331 (+0.951s) (28 laps)
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Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes) – 1’19.384 (+1.004s) (33 laps)
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Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) – 1’19.409 (+1.029s) (32 laps)
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Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes) – 1’19.472 (+1.092s) (26 laps)
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Patricio O’Ward (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1’19.680 (+1.300s) (30 laps)
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Frederik Vesti (Mercedes) – 1’19.689 (+1.309s) (32 laps)
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Paul Aron (Alpine/Renault) – 1’19.862 (+1.482s) (29 laps)
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Ryō Hirakawa (Haas/Ferrari) – 1’20.073 (+1.693s) (27 laps)
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Ayumu Iwasa (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) – 1’20.153 (+1.773s) (29 laps)
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Luke Browning (Williams/Mercedes) – 1’20.310 (+1.930s) (31 laps)
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Jak Crawford (Aston Martin/Mercedes) – 1’20.371 (+1.991s) (29 laps)
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Antonio Fuoco (Ferrari) – 1’20.854 (+2.474s) (29 laps)
Looking Ahead
With Leclerc at the front and several other drivers showing competitive pace, the rest of the weekend looks set to provide an exciting build-up to qualifying and the race on Sunday. Teams will now look to refine their setups ahead of the crucial sessions, and with only a few tenths separating the top drivers, the battle for pole position will likely be fierce.
As the Formula 1 circus moves to the high-altitude challenge of Mexico, all eyes will be on how drivers like Leclerc, Antonelli, and Piastri handle the unique conditions. The stage is set for a thrilling race, and after a standout FP1, it is clear that the competition will be as tight as ever in this iconic Grand Prix.