Norris edges Antonelli in final practice at Mexico City Grand Prix
Lando Norris set the fastest lap in the final practice session, beating Kimi Antonelli by 0.001 seconds as the championship battle heads into qualifying.
Lando Norris recorded the quickest time in the final practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, finishing just 0.001 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. Both drivers improved on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who had been fastest on Friday but was 0.117 seconds slower on Saturday.
Antonelli leads the championship and needs only a top-nine finish on Sunday to secure the title, provided he does not lose more than 23 points to teammate George Russell or 24 points to Lewis Hamilton. The title could be lost only if Russell wins the race and finishes lower than ninth, or if Hamilton wins and Antonelli finishes outside the points.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was fourth fastest, 0.195 seconds off Norris’s pace, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen placed fifth, 0.351 seconds behind the British driver. Russell and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar rounded out the top four teams, with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad completing the top ten.
Earlier in the weekend, Haas replaced Esteban Ocon with reserve driver Roy Hirokawa after Ocon was dropped for the remainder of the event. Hirokawa posted a 19th-place time, 0.577 seconds behind teammate Oliver Bearman. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Cadillac’s Sergio Perez did not set times due to engine problems that required power-unit changes.
Qualifying is scheduled to begin at 20:45 GMT, with Q1 starting at 21:00 GMT.