F1 2019 Mexican GP: FP3 and Qualifying as it happened

Click here for Crash.net's full live coverage of the 2019 Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix from the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. 

Formula 1 heads to Mexico City for the first of two back-to-back races in the Americas, with the Mexican Grand Prix taking place this weekend. 

Lewis Hamilton heads into this weekend with a 64-point lead over Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in the championship knowing that he could seal a sixth drivers' world title - and a third straight championship crown in Mexico - providing he outscores the Finn by at least 14 points come the chequered flag at the end of Sunday's 71-lap grand prix. 

Mexican GP title permutations: What Hamilton needs to win sixth F1 title in Mexico

The Briton will be in need of a special performance across the weekend in order to achieve the feat, given Mercedes recent struggles at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit, with Hamilton and Bottas limited to a distant fourth and fifth during last year's race.

A repeat of that performance would not be enough for Hamilton to seal the title at the first attempt this year, meaning the champagne would be put on ice until at least next weekend's United States Grand Prix in Texas. 

Instead, the battle for victory is expected to be contested between current form side Ferrari and Red Bull, with the latter team claiming the last two victories on offer in Mexico in 2017 and 2018 thanks to Max Verstappen. 

Saturday's action gets underway with the final free practice session, which begins at 1000 local time (1600 BST), before qualifying takes place at 1300 local (1900 BST).