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Ferrari Formula 1 boss Fred Vasseur has downplayed expectations for the Mexico Grand Prix despite Charles Leclerc topping both Friday practice sessions at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Leclerc set the pace with a 1m18.128s in FP1 before lowering the benchmark to 1m17.827s in FP2.
Mixed Practice Fortunes for Ferrari
Team-mate Lewis Hamilton also showed strong pace by taking fourth in opening practice, finishing 0.738s behind Leclerc. Hamilton remained inside the top five during FP2 until an engine failure brought a premature end to his session midway through the afternoon.
Reflecting on the opening day, as reported by Motorsport.com, Fred Vasseur stated that the team must keep working and extracting the best results. The Ferrari team principal noted that track conditions are extremely challenging due to the high altitude, which creates massive difficulties for every team and leaves plenty of overnight work to be done. He also described the circuit layout as extremely bumpy, particularly ahead of Turn 1, adding that the surface condition is nearly dangerous and requires attention.
Guarding Against Austin Repeat
Vasseur’s cautious stance stems from the previous race in Austin, where Ferrari dominated every practice session before qualifying fourth and fifth, ultimately finishing second and fourth in the grand prix. Leclerc attributed those qualifying struggles to rapid track evolution, while Hamilton blamed tyre issues, leaving the Ferrari leadership wary of a similar shift this weekend.
The low-grip circuit in Mexico City is well known for significant track evolution, and with both Mercedes and Red Bull displaying strong form, securing pole position is far from guaranteed. Vasseur noted that every team will improve and fine-tune their packages to cope with the altitude, emphasizing that managing maximum downforce levels at this venue remains a unique challenge for the drivers.
Turbo Advantage Debated
The Italian team is still viewed as a strong contender for its third victory of the 2026 season, following previous wins by Hamilton in Barcelona and Leclerc at Silverstone. The high altitude of Mexico City requires turbochargers to work harder, and because the SF-26 features a smaller turbo than its rivals, turbo lag is expected to be kept to a minimum.
This characteristic led Mercedes driver George Russell to label Ferrari as the pre-weekend favourite, though Hamilton rejected that assessment after completing Friday practice. As reported by Motorsport.com, Lewis Hamilton questioned the significance of the turbo advantage, pointing out that rival Mercedes and Red Bull cars remain massively quicker on the straightaways during every race. Hamilton explained that the team still loses two or three tenths on the straights, although he acknowledged that the overall car is behaving well and functioning effectively.
