Max Verstappen Dominates Practice at Mexico Grand Prix
Max Verstappen has once again shown his dominance in Formula 1, securing the fastest time during the second practice session of the Mexico Grand Prix. This performance adds pressure on the McLaren duo, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, as they continue their battle for the championship.
Verstappen chose to sit out the first practice session, allowing his upgraded Red Bull to be driven by Arvid Lindblad. However, this did not affect his pace, as he immediately made an impact in the second session. He set a time of 1 minute and 17.392 seconds, which was 0.153 seconds faster than Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who had topped the opening session.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes came in third, while Lando Norris of McLaren finished fourth. Norris also missed the first practice session, as he took part in rookie driver duties with Pato O’Ward. Despite this, Norris managed to keep his position in the top four.
However, Oscar Piastri, who participated in both practice sessions, ended the day in 12th place, more than 0.840 seconds behind Verstappen’s best time. This result highlights the gap between the two drivers and raises questions about how Piastri will perform in the crucial qualifying session.
Key Details About the Mexico Grand Prix
The qualifying session for the 20th round of the 2025 F1 campaign will take place on Saturday, 25 October. The event is held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. The session is scheduled to start at 3:00pm local time, which translates to 10:00pm BST.
How to Watch the Mexico Grand Prix
For fans in the United Kingdom, Sky Sports holds the exclusive live broadcast rights for Formula 1. The event can be streamed through NOW TV or Sky Go via mobile devices, tablets, or consoles. Subscribers can access Sky Sports F1 for £20 per month, or it can be included in a broader Sky channel package for £22 per month. A one-off day membership for £14.99 is also available for NOW TV, while a monthly deal for £31.99 offers additional flexibility.
Channel 4 also broadcasts F1 highlights, which are typically aired several hours after the race concludes. This provides an alternative for those who prefer to watch the action later.
Coverage of Qualifying
Qualifying for the Mexico GP will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The build-up starts at 9:00pm BST on Saturday, 25 October, with the session itself beginning at 10:00pm. Fans can also follow live text commentary from Viral In Media during the qualifying session.
For those interested in highlights, Channel 4 will air qualifying coverage starting at 1:55am BST. The programme will last 50 minutes and include pre-qualifying, highlights, and reactions. All 4 will have access to the full coverage for the entire 2025 season.
Radio Coverage
Live radio coverage of all practice, qualifying, and race sessions for the 2025 F1 season will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra. Fans can also tune in via the BBC Sounds app or the BBC Sport website. The Mexico GP qualifying will be covered from 10:00pm BST on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app.
Weather Forecast
The weather conditions for the qualifying session are expected to be hot and dry. The early part of Saturday will see sunny skies with light winds, and temperatures should remain in the mid-20s Celsius. These conditions could impact tire performance and strategy, adding another layer of challenge for the drivers.
