Valtteri Bottas would lead teammate Lewis Hamilton by almost half a second as Mercedes gained the early advantage by using the Ultrasoft tyre in Practice 1 at the Mexican Grand Prix.
With the most sets of Pirelli’s softest compound at their disposal this weekend, the Silver Arrows would use them from the get-go with the Finn posting a 1:17.824s, almost a full second faster than the 2016 pole time as the greater grip of this year’s cars proves more effective at the highest altitude circuit of the year.
The thinner air also negates some of Red Bull’s power deficit and that allowed them to put both cars in front of the two Ferrari’s as both teams ran the Supersoft tyres. Max Verstappen was third but would be unhappy with the setup of his RB13, ending his session some 20 minutes early to complete setup changes in time for Practice 2.
Daniel Ricciardo would be fourth as Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen struggled under braking on the dusty surface at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, running wide at several corners and even spinning, in the case of the 2007 champion.
Sergio Perez’s first goal of being best midfield driver at his home race began well in seventh for Force India, though fellow countryman Alfonso Celis, stepping in for Esteban Ocon for Practice 1, would end his run in the wall after losing the rear at Turn 15 and causing a red flag.
Fernando Alonso will start at the back of the grid due to engine penalties but was eighth quickest in the morning session. McLaren teammate Stoffel Vandoorne will join the Spaniard with the same grid drop but saw his new Honda unit fail before he could set a time.
Felipe Massa was ninth with the two Renaults separated by just two-thousandths of a second in Nico Hulkenberg’s favour over Carlos Sainz, meaning the German completed the top 10.
2018 hopefuls Antonio Giovinazzi and Charles Leclerc both made another Friday appearance with the Italian at Haas and the Monegasque F2 champion at Sauber.
Though the current Ferrari third driver would be two-tenths faster than the Academy member, the session could actually be considered a win for Leclerc as the gap between the two respective cars would normally expect to be larger.
Sean Gelael would also complete another Practice 1 outing with Toro Rosso, replacing the returning Pierre Gasly, and would be a tenth faster than the Kiwi following problems with the engine software on his car.
Overall a muted start to the weekend, dominated by a lack of grip despite the impressive times, with all teams on the same tyres and some proper race and qualifying runs to come in the afternoon, a clear picture will start to emerge.
