George Russell topped the timesheets in the first practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, as championship leader Max Verstappen faced engine issues.
Alex Albon had a major crash in his Williams following contact with Oliver Bearman, temporarily halting the session. Despite the interruption, Russell delivered an impressive start for Mercedes, clocking in 0.317 seconds faster than Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.
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Towards the end of practice, Verstappen raised concerns on the team radio, reporting a “no power” issue, which forced him to slowly return to the pits, missing the last five minutes of the session. He ultimately placed fourth, just behind RB’s Yuki Tsunoda.
Verstappen, facing a potential grid penalty if his car required a new engine, lost additional time in the session after running over debris, which briefly brought out a red flag.
Leading the Drivers’ Championship by 57 points over Lando Norris with five rounds left, Verstappen has seen McLaren appeal the five-second penalty Norris received at last weekend’s dramatic United States Grand Prix, which had dropped him behind Verstappen in the race standings.
Norris sat out the first practice at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as McLaren, along with four other teams, opted to fulfil the requirement of running a rookie driver in at least two practice sessions during the season.
IndyCar star Pato O’Ward stepped into Norris’ car, thrilling his home fans, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli took over Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes, set to replace the seven-time champion next year. Antonelli had a solid session, placing 12th, just ahead of O’Ward. Meanwhile, rookies Felipe Drugovich, Robert Shwartzman, and Oliver Bearman rounded out the session’s times.
Albon crashes after tangle with Bearman
During first practice in Mexico City, Alex Albon collided dramatically with Oliver Bearman, who was filling in for Charles Leclerc at Ferrari. Albon was pushing through the high-speed middle sector when he lost control at Turn Nine, catching Bearman on the corner’s exit.
The Williams’ rear-left tyre briefly lifted off but remained tethered, sending Albon spinning into the barrier at Turn 10. Over the radio, an understandably frustrated Albon called Bearman an “idiot” immediately after the incident.
Williams now faced a tight timeline to prepare Albon’s car for the second practice, where the session would be extended to 90 minutes for Pirelli’s 2024 tyre testing. Vowles noted that if the chassis is intact, they would be ready for FP2, but any damage could mean significant delays.
Mexico City GP FP1 Results
2024 Mexico City Grand Prix FP1, 25 October 2024
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