It's qualifying day in Mexico City and the final practice session is giving us plenty of drama to chew on. Kimi Antonelli has put Mercedes on notice by firing in the fastest time, but it's not all smooth sailing for the championship leader. The Italian initially aborted his first flying lap, which meant Lando Norris briefly jumped to the top before Antonelli found his rhythm and snatched the place with a 1:17.601. His team-mate George Russell is fifth, but Mercedes are clearly onto something special here at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
More F1 news: Verstappen Spots the Same Problem Everyone's Having at Mexico City
Over at Red Bull, things aren't going quite as smoothly. Max Verstappen is sitting third but he's far from happy with his car. The Dutchman's been complaining about his brakes not responding the way he wants them to, and he's clearly frustrated on the radio. According to former F1 mechanic Marc Priestley on Radio 5 Live, the brakes are working hard at this high-altitude venue where the thinner air makes cooling them down a proper challenge. That's not ideal when you're chasing a seventh straight podium finish this weekend.
More F1 news: Hamilton Stays Upbeat on Ferrari's Mexico Pole Chances Despite FP2 Power Unit Failure
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton continue to impress in the red of Ferrari, with Leclerc slightly on top of his team-mate. The McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are lurking in the hunt, though Piastri has slipped back a spot or two. Turn 12 is proving to be a real handful for everyone, with drivers losing the back end when they go from high speed into the tight corner section. It's catching out quite a few pilots, as the deleted lap times tell the story.
More F1 news: Hamilton Shuts Down Ferrari Turbo Advantage Talk After Mexico Friday Troubles
There's been some drama in the garages too. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll had to head back in for some work on his car, while Isack Hadjar over at another team was absolutely scathing on team radio, calling his car the worst he's driven all weekend. Sergio Perez, competing in front of his home crowd after signing a new Cadillac deal, hasn't even managed to get a timed lap in yet. Carlos Sainz in the Williams also had a moment spinning onto the grass, so there's plenty of action on track as teams prepare for qualifying tonight at 21:00 GMT.
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