Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc in action during the first practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix. (EPA Images pic)MEXICO CITY: Charles Leclerc topped the times for Ferrari ahead of runaway championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes in Friday's opening free practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix.
The Monegasque driver clocked a best lap time in one minute and 18.128 seconds to outpace the young Italian by 0.659 seconds in a session, with 10 rookie reserve drivers in action, that was punctuated by a brief Virtual Safety Car intervention.
Antonelli, who had been absent from the circuit on Thursday to recover from a virus, can become the sport's youngest world champion on Sunday, and Italy's first since 1953, if he finishes in the top nine.
