Max Verstappen set the pace in Friday practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, while McLaren driver Lando Norris admitted that the team is “already a little bit behind” after the opening sessions at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Verstappen Extends Form Ahead of Mexico GP

Verstappen, who has won three of the past four races, continues to close the gap on championship leader Oscar Piastri. The four-time world champion clocked the fastest lap, just 0.153 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, as Red Bull pursue every possible performance gain, including a new floor on the car.

Despite topping the timesheets, Verstappen expressed concerns over his race-pace performance during long runs, stating:

“The short run on the soft tyre was good, but the long run was a big problem. The balance wasn’t even off, there was just no grip… you’re not going to win the race like that.”

Verstappen emphasized the importance of sustainable race pace over single-lap speed, signaling potential challenges for Red Bull in the Grand Prix.

McLaren Struggle in One-Lap Pace

For McLaren, Norris and Piastri faced contrasting fortunes. Norris was fourth fastest, while Piastri, 14 points ahead in the championship, struggled in 12th place. Norris admitted:

“We are already a little bit behind… the balance is a bit all over the place. Single-lap stuff we’re struggling with at the minute.”

Despite the one-lap issues, Norris impressed on his long-run pace using the soft tyres, with Leclerc’s engineer Bryan Bozzi noting over team radio that Norris looked “very fast.”

Piastri explained his performance, citing an average soft-tyre lap on low fuel, but remained optimistic about McLaren’s potential in Mexico:

“It is going to be tight but I think we have a good car underneath us.”

Top Performers in Mexico City Practice

• 1st: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2nd: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
• 3rd: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
• 4th: Lando Norris (McLaren)
• 5th: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
• 6th: George Russell (Mercedes)
• 7th: Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
• 8th: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
• 9th: Carlos Sainz (Williams)
• 10th: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

There were no major incidents, although Alex Albon (Williams) ended 19th after brushing the wall during a qualifying simulation lap. Among rookies, Red Bull’s Arvid Lindblad impressed by finishing two places ahead of Tsunoda and 0.093 seconds faster. Lindblad is a strong contender for a senior Red Bull seat in 2026.

Outlook for the Mexico City GP

The practice sessions indicate that Red Bull are still strong contenders for pole, but race pace concerns for Verstappen could open opportunities for McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes. Norris’ long-run performance suggests that while McLaren are struggling with single-lap speed, they could still be competitive in race conditions.