Charles Leclerc secured the fastest lap during the first practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix, clocking a time of **1:18.380**. This session, held on **October 24, 2023**, featured nine rookie drivers, while key contenders such as **Max Verstappen**, **Lando Norris**, and **Lewis Hamilton** opted to sit out.
In compliance with Formula 1 regulations, teams are required to field inexperienced drivers during two practice sessions each season. Consequently, nine of the ten teams took advantage of this opportunity during the initial hour of running at the **Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez**. Despite the presence of numerous rookies, the top of the timesheet was dominated by seasoned race drivers.
Leclerc, representing **Ferrari**, led the session, followed closely by **Kimi Antonelli** of **Mercedes**, who finished just a tenth of a second behind. **Nico Hulkenberg** placed third for **Sauber**, while championship leader **Oscar Piastri** ranked fourth in his **McLaren**. Sauber, the only team to run both of its race drivers, also saw **Gabriel Bortoleto** finish fifth.
Piastri, who has recently seen his points lead diminish, was the only one of the three title contenders present during this session. His lead has narrowed to **14 points** over Norris and **40 points** over a resurgent Verstappen. Piastri’s time was **0.4 seconds** off Leclerc’s pace, and he experienced a minor slide on track when he switched to soft tires.
One standout of the session was British teenager **Arvid Lindblad**, who took over Verstappen’s **Red Bull** car. Lindblad, who competes in **Formula 2**, finished sixth and was the only rookie in the top 12. His performance has generated buzz, with strong speculation regarding a potential seat at **Racing Bulls**, Red Bull’s junior team, for the upcoming season.
Red Bull also introduced further upgrades to its already enhanced **RB21**, including a new iteration of the floor system that debuted at **Monza** in September. These developments have contributed to a significant turnaround in their performance.
The nine race drivers who sat out the opening hour of practice will return for Practice Two later on Friday night at **23:00** (UTC). Fans can catch all the action live on **Sky Sports F1**.
As the thrilling title race continues, the Mexico City Grand Prix promises to deliver more excitement and drama at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
