Antonelli’s anticipated coronation is the primary occasion of the weekend – solely a victory by Russell or Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton can theoretically cease Antonelli changing into champion on Sunday. Even then, Antonelli solely wants ninth place if Russell wins and tenth if Hamilton does.
Leclerc, who topped each periods on Friday, was 0.103 seconds faster than Norris, with Russell simply 0.003secs additional adrift.
Antonelli was 0.217secs off the tempo, and forward of the Purple Bulls of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.
Leclerc’s team-mate Lewis Hamilton was eleventh total after stopping on monitor with a technical downside earlier than finishing his qualifying simulation runs on the tender tyre.
“I used to be feeling actually good within the automotive,” stated Hamilton. “It is simply my luck.
“We did a very good job of getting the set-up in a greater place. It is simply actually unlucky. I feel we’re actually aggressive this weekend as a staff after which did not get to do the long term so I don’t know. It is actually troublesome to overhaul right here.”
Russell stated: “Ferrari are wanting strongest in the mean time, Leclerc did not correctly end his lap. Lewis has the difficulty. We anticipated on this form of circuit for them to carry out greatest however Q3 because it stands can go any means.”
Behind Hadjar, Racing Bulls duo Arvid Lindblad and Lawson sandwiched Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, whereas McLaren’s Oscar Piastri accomplished the highest 10.
On the race-simulation runs later within the session, Leclerc once more gave the impression to be the quickest, however the high 4 groups have been all very carefully matched and there appeared to be little to decide on between the tender and medium tyres.
The runs prompt a one-stop is the more than likely technique on Sunday and overtaking shall be troublesome due to the problem of staying shut to a different automotive when overheating is such a problem within the skinny air on the 2,200m altitude of Mexico Metropolis.
The primary session was marked by 10 of the 11 groups working ‘rookie’ drivers of their automobiles.
One in every of them was Cadillac’s Colton Herta, who the staff are contemplating selling to a race seat rather than Valtteri Bottas subsequent season.
Initially, the staff felt his working in Mexico had given him sufficient factors beneath the F1 system to earn a ‘superlicence’, which is required to race in F1.
However additional investigation by governing physique the FIA revealed the American nine-time Indycar race winner remains to be one level quick and should full one additional follow session this yr to safe his licence.
The staff plan to try this earlier than the tip of the season at one of many forthcoming races.