Lando Norris Claims Top Spot in Final Practice at Mexico GP
Written with artificial intelligence.
Lando Norris secured the fastest time in the third and final practice session for the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix, narrowly beating championship leader Kimi Antonelli by just 0.001 seconds. The session showcased competitive performances from all four top teams at the challenging Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Norris Tops Practice Session
Lando Norris, the reigning world champion, emerged as the fastest driver in the final practice session for the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix, clocking a time of 1m17.872s. He edged out championship leader Kimi Antonelli by a mere 0.001 seconds at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, setting the stage for a competitive qualifying session.
Session Highlights
The session began quietly, with Ryo Hirakawa making his debut in the Haas as a substitute for Esteban Ocon, who was benched for unspecified reasons following a heated exchange with his race engineer. Both Antonelli and Charles Leclerc exchanged fast laps during the early parts of the session, which was dominated by medium tyre runs.
Lewis Hamilton, who had faced engine issues in the previous practice, improved his time to 1m18.162s, briefly taking the lead before Norris switched to soft tyres. Norris's impressive lap marked him as a strong contender ahead of qualifying, while Antonelli had a frustrating session, voicing concerns over traffic from Max Verstappen.
Final Standings
The top positions were tightly contested:
- 1st: Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1m17.872s
- 2nd: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1m17.873s
- 3rd: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1m17.989s
- 4th: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 1m18.026s
- 5th: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1m18.223s
Hamilton finished in sixth, over four-tenths behind Norris, while several drivers, including home favorite Sergio Perez, faced issues that prevented them from setting competitive lap times. Hirakawa ended the session in 19th, just ahead of Valtteri Bottas.
With qualifying approaching, all eyes will be on how the top teams perform in this crucial session, especially given the close times and the high-stakes atmosphere at the high-altitude circuit.