Audi F1 livery concept revealed ahead of 2026 debut
November 14, 2025
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in F1 Mexico GP FP1 with Red Bull talent Arvid Lindblad fastest among the nine-rookie contigent as Formula 1 kicked off its action-packed weekend.
Under the bright and hot Mexican skies at the high-altitude Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, Leclerc set a benchmark lap time of 1:18.380 edging Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli by just over a tenth of a second.
This performance set the tone for Ferrari’s competitive pace and highlighted Leclerc’s mastery of the challenging track conditions, which were complicated by patches of dust and generally low grip levels common to the venue.
The FP1 session was notable for featuring nine F1 rookie drivers, a mandate as per FIA regulations that require each team to run a rookie in four practice sessions throughout the season.
In Mexico, all teams except Sauber elected to run their rookies in FP1 giving the young talents invaluable track time in a competitive environment.
2025 F1 Mexico City Grand Prix FP1 Results
Arvid Lindblad who stepped in for Max Verstappen at Red Bull stood out among the rookies after clocking a 1:18.997 lap to claim a remarkable sixth place overall, outpacing eighth-placed regular racer Yuki Tsunoda by a tenth of a second.
Lindblad’s performance was praised by Red Bull’s advisor Helmut Marko as “solid,” noting his composure and technical feedback given the difficult track conditions and the need to familiarize himself with the unique demands of the Mexico City circuit, including high altitude and limited grip.
Who is Arvid Lindblad? Fast rising Red Bull junior poised for F1 stardom
Verstappen gets huge Red Bull upgrade package for Mexico City GP
Besides Lindblad’s strong sixth place, several other F1 rookie drivers gained valuable experience during F1 Mexico GP FP1 despite finishing further down the order.
IndyCar front-runner Pato O’Ward managed to place Lando Norris’s McLaren in 13th place, followed by George Russell’s Mercedes stand in Frederik Vesti in 14th, with Alpine reserve Paul Aron 15th fastest subbing for Pierre Gasly.
Ryo Hirakawa paced Oliver Bearman’s Haas to 16th, followed by Ayumu Iwasa in Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls, Luke Browning in Carlos Sainz’s Williams with Jak Crawford and Antonio Fuoco rounding out the field in Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin and Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, respectively.
Coming back to regular race drivers, Sauber enjoyed a solid session with both Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto slotting in the top five, split by McLaren championship leader Oscar Piastri in fourth.
Esteban Ocon secured seventh fastest lap for Haas, followed by Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Williams’ Alex Albon rounding out the top ten.
Isack Hadjar brought Racing Bulls into 11th slightly ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
READ MORE:
Nine most controversial F1 races of all time
Most F1 race wins: Formula 1 Drivers with most victories in history
