---
title: "Mexico F1 qualifying preview: Can Leclerc turn Friday pace into pole?"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2026/10/31/mexico-f1-qualifying-preview-leclerc-pole/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "Mexico - Mexico City"
published: "2026-10-31T16:52:43Z"
modified: "2026-10-31T16:52:43Z"
---

# Mexico F1 qualifying preview: Can Leclerc turn Friday pace into pole?

- **Charles Leclerc topped both Friday practice sessions for Ferrari**
- **Lando Norris and George Russell were separated by 0.003secs in FP2**
- K**imi Antonelli starts Saturday with a chance to move closer to his first world title**
- **FP3 at 5.30pm GMT will provide the final indication before qualifying at 9pm**

Leclerc starts Saturday as the early favourite for Mexico City Grand Prix pole after setting the pace in both Friday practice sessions, although the final picture will not become clear until FP3.

Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull were covered by little more than three-tenths in FP2, leaving qualifying finely balanced at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

## Ferrari have the early advantage

Leclerc followed his comfortable FP1 benchmark with a 1:17.827 in FP2, beating Lando Norris by 0.103secs. George Russell was only 0.003secs behind the McLaren, with Kimi Antonelli fourth and Max Verstappen fifth.

F1’s analysis of the Friday qualifying simulations estimated Ferrari’s advantage at about 0.17secs, supporting what the timesheet suggested without making Leclerc a certainty for pole. The Monegasque also left time on the table through mistakes on his soft-tyre runs, while the circuit should continue to gain grip on Saturday.

The warning for Ferrari comes from Austin. Leclerc also led both Friday sessions there last weekend but did not convert that pace into pole, and the margins in Mexico are small enough for another team to overturn the order.

Lewis Hamilton remains harder to judge after his FP2 ended with a power-unit problem. He completed only 13 laps and finished 11th, although he said the Ferrari felt quick before he was told to stop.

## Mercedes and Norris firmly in the fight

Mercedes’ Friday was arguably as encouraging as Ferrari’s. Russell missed FP1 while Frederik Vesti drove his car but was immediately on the pace in FP2, finishing only 0.106secs behind Leclerc.

Antonelli was second in FP1 and fourth in FP2, continuing the form that carried him to victory in Austin. He arrives at qualifying with a 123-point championship lead over Russell and can secure the title this weekend.

Norris also looks capable of challenging for pole after getting within a tenth of Leclerc despite describing his McLaren as difficult to drive. Oscar Piastri had a less convincing Friday in 10th, 0.642secs off the pace, but admitted his soft-tyre lap had been untidy.

## Verstappen still has ground to make up

Verstappen missed FP1 before finishing fifth in the second session, 0.311secs behind Leclerc. His preparation was complicated further by contact with Liam Lawson at Turn 12, which damaged the floor of his Red Bull.

That leaves Red Bull with work to do in FP3, but Verstappen cannot be discounted. Mexico’s thin air, low grip and long 830-metre run from pole to the Turn One braking zone make the weekend particularly sensitive to set-up, while track evolution can alter the order quickly.

## What to watch in FP3

The final practice session should answer two questions: whether Ferrari can retain its single-lap advantage as the track improves, and whether Verstappen can close the gap after his disrupted Friday. Hamilton also needs clean running after losing most of FP2, while Mercedes will want to confirm that Russell and Antonelli’s pace carries into the warmer Saturday conditions.

On Friday’s evidence, Leclerc has the edge, but Norris, Russell, Antonelli and Verstappen are close enough to turn qualifying with one strong lap. FP3 begins at 5.30pm GMT, with qualifying at 9pm.

Our [Mexico City Grand Prix weekend guide](https://readmotorsport.com/2026/10/30/mexico-city-grand-prix-2026-tv-times-schedule/) has the full UK and US schedule and viewing details.

***For the latest Formula 1 and motorsport stories, follow the [Read Motorsport news hub](https://readmotorsport.com/news/).***