2025 F1 Mexico City GP - Friday Practice Results: Max Verstappen hits back in FP2

Max Verstappen topped the timesheets in second practice for the 2025 F1 Mexico City Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver returned to action after missing FP1 due to the team’s obligation to run a rookie driver in his car on two occasions during the season. The four-time world champion made up for lost ground, edging Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just over a tenth.

Leclerc enjoyed a strong day for Ferrari, having topped the first session. He ended FP2 as Verstappen’s nearest challenger.

Kimi Antonelli was third fastest as the lead Mercedes driver, within a tenth of Leclerc. Like Verstappen, Lando Norris missed FP1, but it didn’t impact his pace. He enjoyed a comfortable margin over F1 title rival Oscar Piastri, who made a mistake on his best lap. Piastri ended FP2 outside the top 10 after another difficult session.

Lewis Hamilton was fifth fastest, just ahead of George Russell and Yuki Tsunoda. Fernando Alonso led the midfield in eighth, ahead of Carlos Sainz.

Lance Stroll made it two Aston Martins inside the top 10 in Mexico City.

Leclerc sets the pace in FP1

Leclerc set the pace in first practice for the 2025 F1 Mexico City Grand Prix.

Nine of the 10 teams made changes to their driver line ups for the opening practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. This left Leclerc to set the pace in the SF-25, less than a tenth ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. 

Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg enjoyed another strong session, a week on from his scintillating display at the Circuit of the Americas. The veteran German was third overall.

Piastri was only fourth for McLaren, while Norris sat out the session. It does mean that Piastri will likely miss FP1 in Abu Dhabi at the end of the year.

Gabriel Bortoleto made it two Saubers in the top five, just ahead of Red Bull’s Arvid Lindblad. Lindblad is in contention to join Racing Bulls next year and make his full-time debut.

The British driver was the standout rookie in FP1, setting the sixth-fastest time in Verstappen’s RB21. Next up was Esteban Ocon in seventh as the lead Haas car.

Tsunoda was in eighth, less than a tenth shy of Lindblad’s pace. Franco Colapinto and Alex Albon completed the top 10. 

Mexican driver Pato O'Ward was 13th-fastest in Norris' McLaren.