The Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) was the best this Friday in the first free practice of the Mexican Grand Prix, the twentieth round of the Formula One World Championship, when he clocked 1:20.707 in his best lap at the Hermanos Rodríguez Autodrome.
His teammate, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc, finished second at 46 thousandths.
Red Bull’s Mexican Sergio ‘Checo’ Pérez had a good first performance at his home prize finishing third, ahead of his teammate, two-time Dutch world champion Max Vertstappen in fourth. The ‘top 5’ was closed by the British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
Practice ended a minute early due to an incident by Alpha Tauri’s Liam Lawson which caused a red flag. The Spanish Fernando Alonso, of Alpine, finished sixth.
The Mexican Grand Prix, which takes place at the Hermanos Rodríguez Autodrome, will continue later with the second free session, and this Saturday with the third, to make way for qualifying. The race runs this Sunday.
Time table of the first free practice sessions for the Mexican GP:
1. Carlos Sainz (ESP Ferrari) 1:20.707
2. Charles Leclerc (MY Ferrari) 1:20.753
3. Sergio Perez (MEX Red Bull) 1:20.827
4. Max Verstappen (NED Red Bull) 1:20.827
5. Lewis Hamilton (GBR Mercedes) 1:20.849
6. Fernando Alonso (ESP Alpine) 1:20.899
7. Valtteri Bottas (FIN Alfa Romeo) 1:21.083
8. Lando Norris (GBR McLaren) 1:21.120
9. Pierre Gasly (FRA Alpha Tauri) 1:21.310
10. Sebastian Vettel (GER Aston Martin) 1:21.525
11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS McLaren) 1:21.762
12. Guanyu Zhou )CHN-Alfa Romeo) 1:21.820
13. Lance Stroll (CAN Aston Martin) 1:21.865
14 Mick Schumacher (GER Haas) 1:21.952
15. Nicholas Latifi (CAN Williams) 1:22.912
16. Liam Lawson (NZL Alphatauri) 1:23.881
17. Logan Sargeant (USA Williams) 1:24.246
18. Nyck de Vries (NED Mercedes) 1:24.582
19. Jack Doohan (AUS Alpine) 1:24.615
20 Pietro Fittipaldi (USA Haas) 1: 26.766.