Charles Leclerc sets practice pace at Mexico City Grand Prix

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc set the fastest times in both Friday practice sessions at the Mexico City Grand Prix on 30 October. Yahoo Sports, the BBC, and Sky Sports all reported that Leclerc topped the timesheets across the day's running at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. According to the BBC, Leclerc ended Friday 0.103 seconds faster than McLaren driver Lando Norris and 0.106 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver George Russell. [1][2][3][5][13]

In the opening practice session, Sky Sports reported that Leclerc posted a time 0.659 seconds faster than Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who finished second. Reuters reported via Yahoo Sports that Antonelli recorded the second-fastest lap in that first session after recovering from a viral illness that forced him to miss media duties on Thursday. The BBC reported that Antonelli ended Friday fourth overall, 0.217 seconds off Leclerc's best pace. [1][2][3][4]

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton experienced a technical issue during Friday practice, according to Sky Sports and Yahoo Sports. Hamilton ended the first practice session in fourth place, according to Sky Sports. Meanwhile, Sky Sports noted that Ferrari benefited from their small turbocharger operating effectively in the high altitude of the Mexico City circuit. [3][4][5][6][12]

Antonelli enters Sunday's race in position to secure his first Formula One world championship. The BBC reported that only a race victory by Russell or Hamilton can mathematically prevent Antonelli from winning the title. If Russell wins the race, Antonelli requires a ninth-place finish to secure the championship, while a 10th-place finish is sufficient if Hamilton wins. [2]