Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc headed McLaren’s Lando Norris within the occasions. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who’s poised to clinch his first world title on Sunday, was fourth quickest behind team-mate George Russell.
Antonelli’s anticipated coronation is the principle occasion of the weekend – solely a victory by Russell or Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton can theoretically cease Antonelli changing into champion on Sunday. Even then, Antonelli solely wants ninth place if Russell wins and tenth if Hamilton does.
Leclerc, who topped each classes on Friday, was 0.103 seconds faster than Norris, with Russell simply 0.003secs additional adrift.
Antonelli was 0.217secs off the tempo, and forward of the Pink Bulls of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.
Leclerc’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton was eleventh general after stopping on observe with a technical drawback earlier than finishing his qualifying simulation runs on the smooth tyre.
“I used to be feeling actually good within the automobile,” stated Hamilton. “It is simply my luck.
“We did a very good job of getting the set-up in a greater place. It is simply actually unlucky. I feel we’re actually aggressive this weekend as a crew after which did not get to do the long term so I don’t know. It is actually tough to overhaul right here.”
Russell stated: “Ferrari are trying strongest in the meanwhile, Leclerc did not correctly end his lap. Lewis has the difficulty. We anticipated on this type of circuit for them to carry out greatest however Q3 because it stands can go any manner.”
Behind Hadjar, Racing Bulls duo Arvid Lindblad and Lawson sandwiched Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, whereas McLaren’s Oscar Piastri accomplished the highest 10.
On the race-simulation runs later within the session, Leclerc once more seemed to be the quickest, however the high 4 groups have been all very carefully matched and there little to decide on between the smooth and medium tyres.
The runs prompt a one-stop is the probably technique on Sunday and overtaking shall be tough due to the problem of staying shut to a different automobile when overheating is such a problem within the skinny air on the 2,200m altitude of Mexico Metropolis.
The primary session was marked by 10 of the 11 groups working ‘rookie’ drivers of their automobiles.
One in every of them was Cadillac’s Colton Herta, who the crew are contemplating selling to a race seat rather than Valtteri Bottas subsequent season.
Initially, the crew felt his working in Mexico had given him sufficient factors beneath the F1 system to earn a ‘superlicence’, which is required to race in F1.
However additional investigation by governing physique the FIA revealed the American nine-time Indycar race winner remains to be one level brief and should full one additional follow session this yr to safe his licence.
The crew plan to try this earlier than the top of the season at one of many forthcoming races.
