Having expressed concern about McLaren’s single-lap pace around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez at the end of Friday’s running, team and driver certainly found something special come the end-of-season soft-tyre runs in the final hour of practice running.
Norris uncorked a best lap of 1:16.633 which was 0.345s faster than surprise second-fastest runner Hamilton and half a second quicker than the rest.
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The distant chasing pack included Norris’ championship-leading team-mate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s in-form Max Verstappen, who were over half a second back in fifth and sixth positions respectively.
“Lando has been on fire in this session. Even on his race run yesterday,” said Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok.
“He’s clearly in a good rhythm around this track. We are all talking about Verstappen hunting down the McLarens, but Lando is hunting down Oscar as well since Zandvoort when he retired.
“Let’s await and see when we get to qualifying if that kind of advantage from P3 still holds.”
Although the gap to Norris was big, Mercedes took third with George Russell, while Charles Leclerc delivered improved to fourth with his final attempt in the other Ferrari.
Hamilton finished two tenths of a second faster than Leclerc, recovering from a messy start to the session which saw the Briton outbrake himself and run off track three times.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s Mexico City GP schedule
Saturday October 25
9pm: Mexico City GP Qualifying build-up*
10pm: MEXICO CITY GP QUALIFYING*
Sunday October 26
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico City GP build-up*
8pm: THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico City GP reaction
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s thrilling title race heads continues at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez for the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
