P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell and Mercedes started the Mexican Grand Prix on top, going fastest in a fraught opening practice session that was featured two red flags
George Russell and Mercedes led the way in the first practice session of the Mexican Grand Prix, setting the fastest time but still trailing last year’s pole position time by eight tenths of a second. Carlos Sainz was closest to Russell in second place, with Yuki Tsunoda from Red Bull in third and Max Verstappen in fourth after encountering engine issues. McLaren had a tough session, with Oscar Piastri struggling with balance, while IndyCar driver Pato O’Ward impressed by finishing only three tenths behind Piastri. The session saw two red flags, one due to debris on track and another from a collision between Alex Albon and Ollie Bearman, leading to an investigation by the stewards. Several stand-in drivers, including Kimi Antonelli and Felipe Drugovich, faced challenges in adapting to their respective teams’ cars during the session.
