With the prospect of breaking his personal document for probably the most wins in a season ought to he chalk up a sixteenth success of 2023 in Mexico, Verstappen loved a robust begin to the weekend by topping both FP1 and FP2 in his RB19.
The three-time Mexico GP winner paced Alex Albon’s Williams within the opening session by 0.095s within the opening session earlier than reducing his 1m19.718s benchmark to a 1m18.686s that shaded Lando Norris by 0.119s earlier than rain fell in FP2.
Verstappen’s solely moments of concern got here when he recognized a tear-off that had develop into lodged in his rear suspension and encountered stiff resistance when making an attempt to move a feisty Valtteri Bottas into Flip 1.
Behind Norris, who had clocked the fourth-fastest time in FP1 behind Verstappen, Albon and the second Crimson Bull of Sergio Perez, got here the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc one week on from his disqualification in Austin.
The session was much less easy for Fernando Alonso, who spun by 360 levels on the exit of Flip 9 to root his set of soppy tyres,
Bottas was a combating fourth for Alfa Romeo forward of Perez, a end result made all of the extra spectacular by his having to surrender the Ferrari-powered Alfa in FP1 for Formulation 2 factors chief Theo Pourchaire as a part of F1’s necessary rookie operating.
Fellow F2 drivers Ollie Bearman (Haas), Isack Hadjar (AlphaTauri) and Fredrik Vesti (Mercedes) all had their first experiences of an official F1 weekend, whereas for Hadjar it was a primary expertise of F1 equipment full-stop.
In the meantime, Jack Doohan returned to the Alpine cockpit for the primary time since Abu Dhabi 2022.

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Ollie Bearman, Haas VF-23
What time does qualifying begin for the F1 Mexican Grand Prix?
Qualifying for the Mexican GP begins at 3pm native time (10pm BST), utilizing the common Q1, Q2 and Q3 knockout session format.
Date: Saturday 28 October 2023
Begin time: 3pm native time – 10pm BST
How can I watch Formulation 1?
In the UK Formulation 1 is broadcast stay on Sky Sports activities, aside from the British GP which is proven stay on each Sky Sports activities and Channel 4, with highlights proven on Channel 4 a number of hours after the race has completed. Stay streaming by NOW can be obtainable within the UK.
Sky Sports activities F1, which broadcasts the F1 races, might be added as a part of the Sky Sports activities channels which prices £24 a month for brand spanking new prospects. Sky Sports activities may also be accessed by NOW with a one-off day fee of £11.98p or a month membership of £34.99p per 30 days.
How can I watch F1 Mexican GP qualifying?
In the UK each F1 follow, qualifying and race is broadcast stay on Sky Sports activities F1, with Mexican GP qualifying protection beginning at 8:30pm BST on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Sports activities Most important Occasion.
- Channel: Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Sports activities Most important Occasion
- Begin time: 8:30pm BST 28 October 2023
Autosport shall be operating a live text coverage of qualifying here.

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren MCL60, Carlos Sainz, Ferrari SF-23
When can I watch the highlights of F1 Mexican GP qualifying?
In the UK, Channel 4 is broadcasting highlights of qualifying for the Mexican GP at 8:30am BST on Sunday morning. The complete programme will run for 60 minutes, protecting each qualifying and wrapping up the main speaking factors of the race weekend to this point.
For all the 2023 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of each qualifying and race of every occasion. The highlights can even be obtainable on Channel 4’s on demand catch up providers.
- Channel: Channel 4
- Begin time: 8:30am BST 29 September 2023
Will F1 Mexican GP qualifying be on the radio?
Stay radio protection of each follow, qualifying and race for the 2023 F1 season shall be obtainable on the BBC Radio 5 Stay, BBC 5 Stay Sports activities Further or through the BBC Sport web site.
Protection of Mexican GP qualifying will begin at 10:00pm BST on BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Further and the BBC Sounds app.
What is the climate forecast for qualifying in Mexico Metropolis?
Sizzling and sunny circumstances are forecast for Saturday for the beginning of qualifying on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The temperature is ready to be 24 levels Celsius at first of qualifying, with a really low likelihood of rain.