What the teams said – Friday in Mexico City

Drivers and teams tackled Friday practice for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, facing challenges such as high altitude, low grip, and slippery track conditions. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc topped both practice sessions, though teammate Lewis Hamilton encountered a power unit issue in FP2. McLaren showed strong pace with Lando Norris, while rookie Leonardo Fornaroli gained valuable experience in FP1. Mercedes also enjoyed a positive day, with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell performing well alongside reserve driver Fred Vesti. Red Bull experienced a mixed day as Max Verstappen sustained floor damage following an on-track collision with Liam Lawson, while Isack Hadjar and rookie Ayumu Iwasa completed productive runs. Racing Bulls saw promising performances from Arvid Lindblad and debutant Nikola Tsolov, though Lawson and Verstappen clashed. Alpine's Pierre Gasly secured strong top-ten finishes, supported by Gabriele Mini in FP1, while Franco Colapinto adapted after missing the first session. Haas faced reliability hurdles with Oliver Bearman's power unit and Esteban Ocon's steering adjustments, alongside Ryo Hirakawa's running in FP1. Aston Martin gathered useful data through Fernando Alonso and Jak Crawford, despite an ERS issue for the latter. Audi encountered mechanical setbacks for Gabriel Bortoleto and a cooling fan incident involving Freddie Slater, while Nico Hulkenberg worked through setup evaluations. Williams completed extensive telemetry programs with Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz, and rookie Luke Browning. Cadillac's home favorite Sergio Perez managed physical discomfort while supported by Colton Herta in FP1, and Valtteri Bottas prepared for upcoming grid penalties. Pirelli's Simone Berra noted that track evolution exceeded expectations, with manageable aerodynamic load loss and potential strategic variations between one and two-stop races due to soft compound degradation.