Mexican GP: Leclerc opens free practice in the lead, Antonelli second. Three Italians on track after 15 years

John

By John

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) set the best time in the first free practice session of the Mexican Grand Prix, the 19th round of the F1 World Championship. The Monegasque stops the clock at a time of 1’18″128 and precedes the two Mercedes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, world championship leader and second at 0″659, and Frederik Vesti, third at 0″733 and on track in place of George Russell. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) is fourth at 0″738, just ahead of the Red Bull of Ayumu Iwasa, fifth at 0″985 and busy in place of Max Verstappen. In addition to Antonelli, two Italians were on track: Gabriele Minì was 14th on Alpine, replacing Franco Colapinto, while Leonardo Fornaroli finished 17th on McLaren, replacing Lando Norris. Three Italians had not been on track in a free practice session since 2011: Malaysian Grand Prix with Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT), Jarno Trulli and Davide Valsecchi in Lotus.