Lando Norris Beats Kimi Antonelli by 0.001 Seconds in Mexico City Final Practice

Posted : 01 November 2026

Lando Norris delivered a late performance to finish fastest in the final practice session ahead of the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, edging Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by just 0.001 seconds.

The reigning world champion recorded a fastest lap of 1:17.600 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez on Saturday, October 31. Antonelli followed closely with 1:17.601, setting up an exciting battle ahead of qualifying.

The two drivers exchanged the leading position several times during the session. Norris eventually produced his decisive lap in the closing minutes to deny Antonelli the top spot.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished third, 0.117 seconds behind Norris. Leclerc had dominated both Friday practice sessions but could not maintain his position at the top of the timesheets.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri secured fourth place, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen completed the top five. Verstappen finished 0.351 seconds behind Norris and expressed frustration with his car's braking performance over team radio.

"They're just so terrible, these brakes," the Dutchman complained during the session.

Lewis Hamilton finished sixth for Ferrari, 0.469 seconds off the leading pace. Mercedes driver George Russell occupied seventh position, with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar eighth.

Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10 for Racing Bulls.

The session produced a significant result for the championship battle. Antonelli entered the weekend with an opportunity to secure his maiden Formula 1 drivers' title in Mexico City.

The Mercedes youngster could clinch the championship by finishing ninth or higher on Sunday, provided the title outcome was not affected by other results. He would also be crowned champion if neither Hamilton nor Russell won the race.

Despite his strong practice performance, Antonelli faced pressure to deliver in qualifying and the race as he approached a potentially historic achievement. A championship victory would make him one of the youngest drivers to win the Formula 1 world title.

Meanwhile, Verstappen's fifth-place finish came amid a difficult weekend. The four-time world champion had already received a one-place grid penalty following his collision with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson during Friday's second practice session.

Both drivers were handed the same penalty after stewards reviewed the incident. Verstappen had criticised Lawson's actions, describing his behaviour as not smart.

There was also a surprise development at Haas, where Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa replaced Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the Mexico City weekend. The team provided no official explanation for the decision, despite Ocon having participated in Friday's second practice session.

Hirakawa had previously taken part in the opening practice session before being handed the opportunity to compete for Haas again.

Attention now turned to qualifying, where Norris hoped to convert his impressive practice pace into a strong starting position for Sunday's race.

Lando Norris Beats Kimi Antonelli by 0.001 Seconds in Mexico City Final Practice

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