Less practice time for drivers in Mexico due to Pirelli tyre test
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- Nicole Mulder
Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing may have an advantage over the Grand Prix weekend in Mexico, as several Formula 1 teams will use the first free practice to give a a rookie driver a session, while FP2 is reserved for a Pirelli tyre test. As a result, several drivers will not be able to work on their set-up until the third free practice (and part of the second practice).
Mexico FP2 to be dominated by Pirelli tyre test
The second free practice of the Mexican Grand Prix is going to be dominated by a tyre test for Pirelli. Extended to 90 minutes, the session will be used to test soft compounds for the 2025 F1 season. Two extra sets of tyres will be available per driver, with everyone getting both a base and a prototype tyre. The programme for FP2 will be drawn up by Pirelli engineers.
Advantage for Red Bull in Mexico?
Many teams will be using a rookie driver for the first free practice session of the weekend in Mexico City, fulfilling their obligation to put a rookie behind the wheel twice a year - once per driver. Red Bull is one of the few teams that will not put a rookie in the cockpit of the RB20 in Mexico, and this may give Verstappen and Sergio Perez an advantage, as they can fully use FP1 to work on the set-up for the rest of the weekend.
McLaren are among the teams to field a rookie in FP1, with Pato O'Ward jumping into the MCL38, although it has not yet been announced whether he will take a seat in Lando Norris' or Oscar Piastri's car. Lewis Hamilton will be giving his Mercedes to Andrea Kimi Antonelli, while one of the Ferrari drivers has to sit out the first session of the weekend to let Oliver Bearman drive. At Aston Martin, it is Fernando Alonso who has to sit out of FP1 for Felipe Drugovich. Sauber (Stake F1) will also give a rookie a chance, as Robert Shwartzman will temporarily take over from Guanyu Zhou.
Drivers who cannot take part in FP1 because they have to give up their car for that session will only get 30 minutes for their own practice during FP2 and will be given an extra set of mediums to do so. They will complete Pirelli's test programme in 60 minutes.
This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy
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