Heat, Grip and Rookie Talent Define Friday in Mexico
The opening day of the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix unfolded without major incidents, but it delivered plenty of talking points, from promising rookie debuts to Max Verstappen setting the pace in Free Practice 2. With scorching track temperatures and a mix of experience levels on display, teams focused on data collection, tire management, and long-run performance.
FP1: Rookie showcase, Lindblad impresses
As part of the FIA’s mandate requiring teams to run rookie drivers in at least two practice sessions per season, Free Practice 1 in Mexico saw a wave of fresh faces take the wheel. While most rookies ended the session behind the regular drivers, Arvid Lindblad stood out with a remarkable sixth-fastest time, slotting himself between seasoned competitors and making the most of his opportunity in Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Red Bull’s Head of Racing, Gianpiero Lambiase, praised Lindblad’s performance:
“Arvid did a very solid job in the car in FP1. We had new components on the car and he gathered exactly the data we needed. He kept the car in one piece and gave good feedback to the team.”
FP2: Verstappen fastest, But Red Bull eyes race pace
In Free Practice 2, Verstappen clocked the fastest lap of the day with a 1:17.392, edging out Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari and Lando Norris, who trailed by just over two-tenths. Oscar Piastri, however, struggled to find rhythm, finishing only 12th.
Despite topping the timesheets, Verstappen remained cautious about Red Bull’s overall performance:
“On the soft tire we managed to put in a good lap, but the rest wasn’t great. The medium runs weren’t good, and the big issue is the long runs. There’s no grip, and once you go into a proper stint, the car overheats and you lose all performance. You can be quick over one lap, but that won’t help you in the race.”
Heat and Tire Degradation a Key Concern
With track temperatures soaring to nearly 50°C, teams faced significant challenges in managing tire wear and thermal degradation. Lambiase acknowledged the difficulty of the conditions:
“The track temperature made life difficult for us—not just in terms of power unit and brake cooling, but especially for the tires. We’re competitive over one lap, but with high fuel loads we still have work to do. We’re not where we want to be yet.”
Looking Ahead to Qualifying
As teams analyze Friday’s data, the focus now shifts to optimizing setups for both qualifying and race pace. Red Bull will be working hard to address their long-run concerns, while McLaren will look to improve grip and consistency for Piastri. With Verstappen already showing strong one-lap speed and rookies like Lindblad making headlines, Saturday promises to deliver more excitement at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
