Image: from Memo Ruede X @MemoRuede
By Benjamin Foster | Staff Writer with Agencies
Max Verstappen led the field on day one of the 2025 Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix, setting the fastest time in the second practice session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The Red Bull driver clocked a best lap of 1:17.392, taking top spot ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who finished second and third respectively.
The second practice session on Friday, October 24, saw temperatures rise slightly compared to the morning session, with air temperatures reaching 26°C and the track at 43°C. With 25% humidity, the drivers faced challenging conditions, especially with the increased tire degradation in the warmer weather.
Plenty for the teams to look over ✅😮💨
FP2 is complete, with Max Verstappen leading the way by over a tenth and a half ⏱️#F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/t62ZV08aGe
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 24, 2025
Session Highlights and Key Moments
In the early laps of FP2, Charles Leclerc led the timesheets with a 1:18.669 lap, utilizing the medium tires. The Ferrari driver had a brief battle for the top spot with Lando Norris (McLaren) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). The midfield was highly competitive, with positions 1 through 12 separated by just under one second at one point. Leclerc improved his time to 1:18.353, staying ahead as the session progressed.
However, as the session neared its midpoint, Max Verstappen made his presence known. The Dutch driver was quick to move to the front, with 1:17.392, setting the fastest lap of the day. His performance marked the first time Verstappen had topped the timesheets in the weekend, after previously focusing on race simulation runs. Verstappen’s improvement pushed Leclerc to second, and Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) followed in third.
In the final 15 minutes of the session, Verstappen continued to impress, though he radioed his team, expressing frustration about the car’s handling. Despite complaints of a lack of grip, Verstappen’s time remained unbeaten, and he concluded the session as the fastest.
Competitive Balance Across Teams
The timesheet for FP2 showed a fascinating balance between the teams, with Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren all represented in the top five. The closeness of the times suggests that the competition will be intense in the coming days, with several teams targeting podium positions.
After Verstappen, Leclerc, and Antonelli rounded off the top three, McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton occupied fourth and fifth positions respectively. George Russell also had a strong showing, securing sixth place, just a fraction of a second behind Hamilton.
Notable performances came from Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), and Carlos Sainz (Williams), who all demonstrated solid pace as the session wore on.
Full Results of FP2 – 2025 Mexican Grand Prix
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – 1:17.392
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:17.545
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:17.566
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Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1:17.643
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Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 1:17.692
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George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:17.829
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Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull/Honda RBPT) – 1:17.883
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Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes) – 1:17.938
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Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes) – 1:17.939
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Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Mercedes) – 1:17.954
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Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) – 1:18.218
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes) – 1:18.232
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Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari) – 1:18.266
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Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT) – 1:18.281
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Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber/Ferrari) – 1:18.323
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Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber/Ferrari) – 1:18.348
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Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari) – 1:18.442
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Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Renault) – 1:18.721
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Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes) – 1:18.855
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Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Renault) – 1:19.194
What’s Next?
With the third and final practice session scheduled for Saturday, October 25, all eyes will be on the teams as they fine-tune their setups ahead of the qualifying session. Verstappen’s top position has once again reaffirmed his dominance on the track, but the competition remains tight, with several teams showing strong form.
The 2025 Mexican Grand Prix promises to be an exciting contest, with Verstappen, Leclerc, and the rest of the field set to battle for supremacy in the high-altitude setting of Mexico City.
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