Max Verstappen topped both practice sessions for Red Bull on Friday; Lando Norris second as Lewis Hamilton off the pace in seventh; watch Practice Three live on Sky Sports F1 at 6.30pm on Saturday, followed by qualifying at 10pm
Last Updated: 28/10/23 12:17am
Max Verstappen completed a Friday practice double at the Mexico City Grand Prix as Lando Norris emerged as the world champion’s most likely pole challenger.
Verstappen, who is seeking a record 16th victory of the season, gave Red Bull a perfect start to the weekend by setting a 1:18.686 to top McLaren’s Lando Norris by just over a tenth of a second.
Charles Leclerc took third for Ferrari, while Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, urged on by the hugely supportive crowd at his home race, was fourth.
Either side of him there were surprise successes, with Valtteri Bottas fourth for Alfa Romeo and Daniel Ricciardo sixth for AlphaTauri.
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Fernando Alonso loses control, spins then styles it out through the fast Turn Nine during P2
Having finished 11th in first practice, Lewis Hamilton was once more unable to fulfil his hope of being able to challenge Red Bull as the seven-time world champion was seventh.
His Mercedes team-mate George Russell was only 10th, having earlier been one of five drivers to sit out first practice as teams took the opportunity to fulfil their obligated young driver sessions.
While Mercedes may be disappointed not to have shown more speed following their upgrades last weekend in Austin, the uniquely high altitude of Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez means there are likely to be significant overnight adjustments which could alter the pecking order.
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Former strategist Bernie Collins explains the impact the high altitude will have on the cars at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Also out of position was Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who was only 11th having also missed the opening session.
Further back, Aston Martin endured a torrid day as Lance Stroll finished 18th and Fernando Alonso 20th, with the Spaniard spinning off as he struggled in a car that has regressed since appearing to be Red Bull’s biggest rival during the first half of the season.
More to follow…
Mexico City GP Practice Two Timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time |
| 1. Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:18.686 |
| 2. Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.119 |
| 3. Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.266 |
| 4. Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | +0.269 |
| 5. Sergio Perez | Red Bull | +0.302 |
| 6. Daniel Ricciardo | AlphaTauri | +0.316 |
| 7. Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +0.338 |
| 8. Esteban Ocon | Alpine | +0.391 |
| 9. Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.477 |
| 10. George Russell | Mercedes | +0.541 |
| 11. Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | +0.571 |
| 12. Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | +0.604 |
| 13. Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | +0.729 |
| 14. Alex Albon | Williams | +0.760 |
| 15. Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | +0.849 |
| 16. Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +0.956 |
| 17. Logan Sargeant | Williams | +1.214 |
| 18. Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1.389 |
| 19. Kevin Magnussen | Haas | +1.426 |
| 20. Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +1.740 |
When to watch the Mexico City GP live only on Sky Sports F1
Friday
8:45pm: The F1 Show
10:45pm: Mexico City GP Practice Two (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
Saturday
6.15pm: Mexico City GP Practice Three
9pm: Mexico City GP Qualifying build-up (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
10pm: Mexico City GP Qualifying (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
Sunday
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday Mexico City GP build-up (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
8pm: The MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX (also on Sky Sports Main Event)
10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico City GP
F1 is in Mexico for the middle leg of the Americas triple header. Watch the whole Mexico City Grand Prix weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday, with Sunday’s race at 8pm. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW