F1 next heads to Mexico City as the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez hosts the Mexico City Grand Prix and round 20 of the 2025 season.
Max Verstappen took maximum points last time out in Austin, winning both the sprint race and the grand prix to narrow the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri to 40 points.
Piastri, who struggled in Texas, also saw his lead over McLaren teammate Lando Norris cut to 14 points with five races remaining. Norris and Piastri collided in the sprint race, with the team’s “papaya rules” order under scrutiny once more.
Norris and Verstappen clashed in Mexico last year, a race won by Carlos Sainz, who was then at Ferrari. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are still chasing the Scuderia’s first win of the season, while Mercedes’ George Russell could be in contention once again.
Follow live updates from Mexico with The Independent
F1 MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- Round 20 of the 2025 F1 season takes place in Mexico
- Qualifying in Mexico starts at 10pm (BST) on Saturday
- Lando Norris quickest in FP3; Hamilton 2nd; Russell 3rd
- Oscar Piastri has a 14-point lead over Lando Norris, with Max Verstappen 40 points behind the Aussie
- READ: Piastri vs Norris vs Verstappen - where will the F1 title be won and lost?
What are the start times this weekend in Mexico City?
Friday 24 October 2025 17:30
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Kieran Jackson
All times BST/GMT
Saturday 25 October
- Qualifying: 10pm
Sunday 26 October
- Race: 8pm
Max Verstappen on 'positive pressure' of this year's title race:
21:15
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Kieran Jackson
“I just want to try and win races until the end of the season. We had a good run and we also know as a team that it needs to be perfect to have a chance. So, if it works, then great, unbelievable comeback.
“Of course, I’ve won championships very late, very early. Now, this one, of course, is very different because I think for most of the season it was a lot harder for us.
“To be able to still be in this fight is very surprising but I take it. For me, it’s just positive pressure. I’m loving what I’m doing. If the car is competitive, it’s much better to be racing in it than when it’s not.”
Oscar Piastri says Max Verstappen’s world title challenge is a ‘bit of a surprise’
21:07
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Kieran Jackson
Asked if he believed after Zandvoort that his title fight was only with Norris, Piastri said: “I think probably yes but everyone did. The run of form that he (Verstappen) has had since Monza has been a bit of a surprise.
“There were flashes of that performance early in the season but also pretty big dips. He has come to the fight quicker than I expected.
“The gap has shrunk a bit in the last few races but the focus has always been on going as fast as I can.
“I’d rather have the lead than being in any other spot. There is no benefit for me in worrying about that or focusing on that.”
Jacques Villeneuve slams ‘very soft’ McLaren racing rules with Norris and Piastri
21:00
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Kieran Jackson
Jacques Villeneuve believes McLaren’s “papaya rules” is very soft as drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris vie for their first F1 world championship.
Piastri revealed that the McLaren drivers now have a “clean slate” until the end of the season, after the team previously suggested Norris faced “repercussions” over their collision in Singapore earlier this month.
Yet Piastri hitting Norris in last week’s sprint in Austin has balanced out the driver preference with five races to go of the 2025 season. Piastri’s lead is 14 points over Norris and 40 points ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Full quotes below:
VIDEO: Verstappen's celebration at the last race in Austin
20:45
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Kieran Jackson
Constructor standings heading into round 20
20:30
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Kieran Jackson
1. McLaren - 678 points (champions)
2. Mercedes - 341 points
3. Ferrari - 334 points
4. Red Bull - 331 points
5. Williams - 111 points
6. Racing Bulls - 72 points
7. Aston Martin - 69 points
8. Sauber - 59 points
9. Haas - 48 points
10. Alpine - 20 points
How many races are left?
20:22
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Kieran Jackson
ROUND 20 - MEXICO
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City - 24-26 October
ROUND 21 - BRAZIL (sprint weekend)
Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo - 7-9 November
ROUND 22 - LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas Street Circuit - 20-22 November
ROUND 23 - QATAR (sprint weekend)
Lusail International Circuit, Lusail - 28-30 November
ROUND 24 - ABU DHABI
Yas Marina Circuit - 5-7 December
Arvid Lindblad embraces the F1 ‘deep end’ with teen in contention for 2026 seat
20:15
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Kieran Jackson
British teenager Arvid Lindblad believes he will find a way to succeed in Formula One as he bids to land a seat for next season.
The 18-year-old impressed again while driving Max Verstappen’s Red Bull in first practice at the Mexican Grand Prix on Friday. Lindblad has been part of part of the Red Bull setup since the age of 14 and was granted an FIA super licence aged 17 after a request from the team.
Full story below:
TOP-10 IN FP3
19:40
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Kieran Jackson
1. Lando Norris
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. George Russell
4. Oscar Piastri
5. Kimi Antonelli
6. Max Verstappen
7. Charles Leclerc
8. Isack Hadjar
9. Yuki Tsunoda
10. Gabriel Bortoleto
Lando Norris quickest in FP3
19:32
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Kieran Jackson
That stunner of a lap from Lando Norris takes top spot - and by a comfortable margin!
The McLaren driver set a 1:16:633 - 0.345 secs quicker than his nearest competitor, which is an improved showing from Lewis Hamilton.
George Russell nips in late to take third, five-tenths off, with Oscar Piastri in fourth and Kimi Antonelli fifth.
6-10: Verstappen, Leclerc, Hadjar, Tsunoda, Bortoleto
Verstappen on team radio:
19:28
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Kieran Jackson
“Yeah no grip, front or rear.”
The Dutchman down in P6 right now...
Isack Hadjar on team radio:
19:26
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Kieran Jackson
“Pierre let me by, what is this guy doing? Idiot!”
The rookie not happy with his fellow Frenchman...
Norris goes P1
19:24
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Kieran Jackson
OK - that’s a real statement from Norris.
He goes fastest by three-tenths to Lewis Hamilton with a 1:16:633 - and that’s six-tenths faster than Oscar Piastri in third.
Final laps coming in now...
Lewis Hamilton quickest
19:20
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Kieran Jackson
This is setting up for a brilliant qualifying session!
Lewis Hamilton is at the top with a 1:16:978, two-tenths ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc in third.
10 minutes to go - and the track is ramping up now at the end of this session. Expect more times to tumble...
Alex Albon with a big lock-up
19:13
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Kieran Jackson
Albon was setting personal bests before locking off and going off track four corners from the end!
Most of the cars coming back out now as they set their qualifying simulaton laps with 15 mins to go!
Russell now on top
19:11
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Kieran Jackson
From struggling earlier in the session, Russell is now P1 with a 1:17:892 - 0.123 secs quicker than Lando Norris in second.
3-10: Sainz, Verstappen, Leclerc, Hadjar, Tsunoda, Albon, Antonelli, Hamilton
20 mins left in FP3...
Hadjar not happy with the traffic in the stadium section
19:05
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Kieran Jackson
Some choice words from Isack Hadjar as he heads into the hairpin! #F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/IqH50wLKrF
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2025
Top-10 in FP3 after 30 mins
19:00
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Kieran Jackson
1. Norris
2. Sainz
3. Russell
4. Verstappen
5. Leclerc
6. Tsunoda
7. Albon
8. Hadjar
9. Lawson
10. Piastri
Norris quickest after first runs
18:58
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Kieran Jackson
It’s tight - but it’s Norris who is top dog right now!
Sainz is in second, 0.013 secs behind, with Verstappen just 0.036 off.
Very tight!
Russell, meanwhile, struggling to get the tyres working on his Mercedes - he’s down in P17!
Stroll and Alonso out on track
18:34
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Kieran Jackson
The two Aston Martin cars - who are separated by just five points incidentally - are hte only cars out on track in the first five minutes.
No lap times set as of yet..
Third practice underway
18:30
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Kieran Jackson
As is commonplace, not loads of activity from the start in FP3 - as the drivers go through their usual 50-minute run plans.
Plenty of Argentine fans in the crowd at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez..
FP3 coming up
18:25
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Kieran Jackson
Third and final hour of practice coming up then!
Can McLaren make any gains on Max Verstappen, pace-setter last night?
1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve on McLaren 'pressure'
17:42
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Kieran Jackson
"Both McLaren drivers are under pressure actually and neither has reacted super well to pressure,” he said, in association with Vision4Sport.
"Piastri has got quite a decent lead, but as we have seen in the last few races, the pressure has really got to him for some reason.
"But Lando did not profit from it as much as he could and should have. He didn't make the most of the situation.
"But the problem is that Verstappen is getting closer and closer and Verstappen is the one that you don't want bearing down on you. You don't want him breathing down your neck, hot on your heels."
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies
14:00
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Kieran Jackson
On Lindblad: “All the teams lost GPS for a bit for the session. We left Arvid on the lowish fuel, not to give him complications. He did a very good job, it’s hard to jump in, the pace is there.”
On upgrades: “We have a couple of things, new bits, there’s some tweaking here for car cooling and brakes.”
On title fight: “We still take it race by race, an unbelievable weekend in Austin, it’s very difficult to win races, Max did a mega weekend, it gives a further incentive to all of us. We don’t look at the championship, we look at it session by session.”
Speaking to Sky Sports
Lando Norris after finishing FP2 in fourth:
01:00
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Kieran Jackson
“I think we’re in a reasonable place, I got up to speed very quickly, I feel like I found the limit quickly, not that it was a bad day but usually we’re very good on a Friday and everyone catches up on Saturday - we’re already a little bit behind.
“Some work to do tonight. The balance on the car is a bit all over the place.”
Oscar Piastri after finishing 12th in FP2:
Saturday 25 October 2025 00:30
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Kieran Jackson
“It was OK, pretty average on the softs, not surprised by the lap time. Tried a lot of things, overall I felt reasonable. See if we can shoot up tomorrow.
TOP-10 IN FP2
Saturday 25 October 2025 00:21
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Kieran Jackson
1. Verstappen
2. Leclerc
3. Antonelli
4. Norris
5. Hamilton
6. Russell
7. Tsunoda
8. Alonso
9. Sainz
10. Stroll
Lewis Hamilton goes off track
Saturday 25 October 2025 00:08
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Kieran Jackson
Most of the drivers lined up for a practice start and off down the long main straight to turn 1, but Hamilton gets it wrong, goes off-line and off-track at turn 2.
All fine though - he rejoins normally.
Max Verstappen quickest in FP2
Saturday 25 October 2025 00:03
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Kieran Jackson
So after a host of long runs to end the session, Max Verstappen stays fastest with a 1:17:392 - 0.153 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc in second, with Kimi Antonelli in third.
Lando Norris is fourth, 0.251 secs off Verstappen, with Lewis Hamilton completing the top-five.
6-10: Russell, Tsunoda, Alonso, Sainz, Stroll
Piastri. only P12!
Verstappen still quickest
Friday 24 October 2025 23:51
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Kieran Jackson
10 minutes to go. Long runs well underway.
Top-5: Verstappen, Leclerc, Antonelli, Norris, Hamilton
Piastri, unignorably, down in P12...
Jonathan Wheatley on Audi in 2026:
Friday 24 October 2025 23:44
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Kieran Jackson
“It’s a tremendously exciting team, the excitement is building, the partners we’ve announced, it’s gaining momentum. It’s bursting out of us, we’re on track and looking forward to bringing the Audi car and launching a new team next year.”
Speaking to Sky Sports
TOP-10 after 30 mins
Friday 24 October 2025 23:32
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Kieran Jackson
1. Verstappen - 1:17:392
2. Leclerc - 0.153
3. Russell - 0.437
4. Tsunoda - 0.491
5. Sainz - 0.547
6. Norris - 0.788
7. Piastri - 0.840
8. Hadjar -0.941
9. Hulkenberg - 0.956
10. Antonelli 1.222
Antonelli up to P2
Friday 24 October 2025 23:28
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Kieran Jackson
The Italian’s car has been fixed and the 18-year-old gets involved with the big boys, sandwiched between the Ferraris in second with - a full second off Leclerc’s new-table topping lap on soft tyres.
Hamilton up to P3
Friday 24 October 2025 23:20
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Kieran Jackson
All 20 drivers just getting into their groove now, with Hamilton going third - three-tenths off teammate Leclerc.
Norris separates the Ferrari pair, with Verstappen in fourth and Piastri fifth.
All the contenders at the top early on - 20 mins gone in FP2!
Leclerc quickest
Friday 24 October 2025 23:09
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Kieran Jackson
Leclerc on top early on mediums, with Norris and Piastri second and third respectively.
Scrap the fix for Antonelli; he’s back in the pits due to the issue. His teammate George Russell also has a slide off-track but joins safely enough.
Antonelli problem solved
Friday 24 October 2025 23:06
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Kieran Jackson
Oddly enough, Mercedes seem to have fixed the issue without the need to get their driver back on track.
Norris: “A lot of misfires out of every corner.”
Few problems early on for some drivers.
Issue for Kimi Antonelli
Friday 24 October 2025 23:02
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Kieran Jackson
Antonelli: “I’ve got a problem. Limp home, it’s saying.”
Not ideal. Straight back into the pits for the Mercedes teenager...
FP2 underway!
Friday 24 October 2025 23:01
,
Kieran Jackson
So we’re back in action on track with second practice and, for nine drivers, their first action of the weekend on-track after the rookie outings earlier.
The likes of Verstappen, Norris, Hamilton and Russell all in the car for the first time. And they’ll be hot too - track temperature is currently 43C!
Fancy a flutter?
Friday 24 October 2025 22:55
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Kieran Jackson
Currently, Max Verstappen is the favourite with the bookies heading into qualifying on Saturday:
VIDEO: Oscar Piastri ahead of Mexico GP weekend
Friday 24 October 2025 21:15
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Kieran Jackson
Top-10 in FP1
Friday 24 October 2025 20:45
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Kieran Jackson
1. Leclerc - 1:18:380
2. Antonelli - 1:18:487
3. Hulkenberg - 1:18:760
4. Piastri - 1:18:784
5. Bortoleto - 1:18:916
6. Lindblad - 1:18:997
7. Ocon - 1:19:038
8. Tsunoda - 1:19:090
9. Colapinto - 1:19:331
10. Albon - 1:19:384
Charles Leclerc quickest in FP1
Friday 24 October 2025 20:32
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Kieran Jackson
Leclerc stays top at the end, fastest by one-tenth to Kimi Antonelli wiht a 1:18:380.
Nico Hulkenberg takes third, with Piastri and Bortoleto completing the top-five.
Arvid Lindblad stays in sixth and is a tenth quicker than Yuki Tsunoda in the other Red Bull!
6-10: Lindblad, Ocon, Tsunoda, Colapinto, Albon
Lindbald up to P5
Friday 24 October 2025 20:27
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Kieran Jackson
Bit more like it for Red Bull’s rookie - he goes six-tenths off Piastri in fifth.
Final laps coming in now...
Charles Leclerc now top of the table
Friday 24 October 2025 20:20
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Kieran Jackson
Leclerc goes quickest with a 1:18:380 - 0.107 secs quicker than Antonelli in second, with Nico Hulkenberg in third and Oscar Piastri in fourth.
5-10: Tsunoda, Bortoleto, Colapinto, Albon, Hadjar
Quickest rookie now? Mercedes’ Fred Vesti, replacing George Russell, who is 12th overall.
10 mins left in FP1...
Lindblad goes wide
Friday 24 October 2025 20:10
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Kieran Jackson
A shame that for the 18-year-old in Verstappen’s Red Bull!
He was setting personal best with new soft tyres in the first two sectors before going wide, ruining his lap.
Welcome to Formula One.
Top-10 in FP1 after 30 mins
Friday 24 October 2025 20:01
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Kieran Jackson
1. Piastri
2. Albon
3. Hadjar
4. Antonelli
5. Iwasa
6. Tsunoda
7. Browning
8. Ocon
9. Bortoleto
10. Crawford
Kimi Antonelli goes fastest
Friday 24 October 2025 19:53
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Kieran Jackson
The Mercedes driver is P1 with a 1:20:035 - 0.093 secs ahead of Isack Hadjar in second, with Esteban Ocon in third.
Luke Browning - another Brit rookie, driving for Williams - the highest of the rookies so far in P10.
20 mins gone in FP1.
Verstappen on the pit-wall
Friday 24 October 2025 19:50
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Kieran Jackson
Arvid Lindblad is in the car for FP1, meaning Verstappen watches on the pit-wall!
Oscar Piastri quickest early on
Friday 24 October 2025 19:40
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Kieran Jackson
It’s pretty helter-skelter early on, with every car out on track, as the drivers just get into their groove.
Oscar Piastri is the fastest so far, with Isack Hadjar P2 and Yuki Tsunoda P3.
Arvid Lindblad, the British teenager in Max Verstappen’s car, fastest out of the rookies so far.
FP1 underway!
Friday 24 October 2025 19:32
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Kieran Jackson
So with a host of different drivers, we’re underway with the first session of the Mexico weekend!
Should be fun!
Five minutes from FP1 in Mexico
Friday 24 October 2025 19:25
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Kieran Jackson
It’ll be a busy first session in Mexico City - especially given there are NINE rookie drivers taking part:
- Alpine: Paul Aron replaces Pierre Gasly
- Aston Martin: Jak Crawford replaces Lance Stroll
- Ferrari: Antonio Fuoco replaces Lewis Hamilton
- Haas: Ryo Hirakawa replaces Oliver Bearman
- McLaren: Pato O’Ward replaces Lando Norris
- Mercedes: Frederik Vesti replaces George Russell
- Racing Bulls: Ayumu Iwasa replaces Liam Lawson
- Red Bull: Arvid Lindblad replaces Max Verstappen
- Williams: Luke Browning replaces Carlos Sainz
Drivers must give up two FP1 sessions per season to rookie drivers (classified as drivers with two or less grand prix starts to their name)