Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
It is time for the third and final practice session on what will surely be an historic weekend at the Mexico City GP. Follow the latest updates from FP3 in GPblog's liveblog below!
Kicking off the weekend in which Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli can become the youngest-ever F1 world champion, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc looks like the man to beat so far in Mexico. The Monegasque driver topped the timing charts in both of Friday's practice sessions, finishing a tenth ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris and Mercedes' George Russell in FP2.
Things were not as bright for Leclerc's teammate Lewis Hamilton, whose second practice session was brought to a premature end due to power unit issues at the high-altitude Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The Briton finished P11 in the FP2 timing sheets, having completed only 13 laps.
Verstappen and Lawson collide in FP2
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The biggest talking point out of FP2 was undoubtedly the collision between Red Bull family drivers Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson. The pair, who have raced as teammates on three occasions this season, were wheel-to-wheel in the slow stadium section of the Mexico City GP circuit, and even made contact on the penultimate corner.
With damage to his bargeboard for most of the session, Verstappen finished half a second down on Leclerc in P5, and made his feelings on the incident with Lawson very much known. Speaking post-FP2, Verstappen said: “For me it’s not very smart behaviour when you’re in this position to pick a fight with me," an accusation Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has since rejected.
The FIA stewards were also unimpressed by the Verstappen-Lawson incident, but dished out punishment to both drivers for the collision. The Kiwi and the Dutchman will each have a one-place grid penalty for Sunday's race, as well as an extra penalty point, for what they both later agreed was an "unnecessary and clumsy" incident.
All eyes, however, are on Antonelli this weekend. The 20-year-old needs just two points to secure the title on Sunday, but could also be crowned champion without scoring any points if neither Russell nor Hamilton win the race. Moreover, Mercedes could also secure the constructors' title at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The Silver Arrows need to outscore Ferrari by at least 39 points.
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