In terms of updates, McLaren has new Cooling Louvres. To cope with the specific power unit cooling challenges in Mexico, the cooling louvres have been extended forwards and reshaped.
Red Bull has a new Engine Cover and Sidepod. To recover cooling mass flow through the radiators, the exit area has been increased by extending the area of the existing louvres and optional louvres
further outboard, while the revised sidepod and floor to sidepod split line is aimed at improving the flow characteristics below the inlet to the radiator duct gaining local load whilst maintaining stability.
Ferrari has a new Engine Cover and Cooling Louvres. Specific to the requirements of the circuit, these new bodywork exit and additional louvre panels are extending the top end of the engine cooling capacity, at the expense of car efficiency.
Racing Bulls have a new Coke/Engine Cover and Cooling Louvres. The main cooling exit at the rear of the bodywork has been enlarged, to increase the available engine cooling to suit the high demands of this circuit, while to further extend the cooling range in extreme conditions, an additional forward louvre panel is available which allows for increased airflow through the radiators.
The Audi has a new Rear Corner featuring an updated rear brake duct deflector. The revised rear brake duct deflector geometry represents a local rear corner aerodynamic load increase, improving the overall aerodynamic performance of the car.
The Alpine has a reprofiled exhaust tailpipe vane whose configuration has been trimmed to suit the track's unique ambient and aerodynamic requirements.
There are no less than ten - 10 count 'em! - reserve drivers on duty this morning as the team's fulfil their obligations.
Ayumu Iwasa replaces Verstappen at Red Bull, Frederik Vesti replaces Russell at Mercedes, Leonardo Fornaroli is in for Norris at McLaren, Freddie Slater for Bortoleto at Audi, Nikola Tsolov for Lawson at Racing Bulls, Colton Herta for Bottas at Cadillac, Luke Browning for Albon at Williams, Jak Crawford for Stroll at Aston Martin, Gabriele Mini for Colapinto at Alpine and Ryo Hirakawa for Ocon at Haas. Only Ferrari has both its regular drivers on duty.
While Antonelli and Bottas were both laid low by 'Montezuma's Revenge' yesterday, and had to miss media duties, today local hero Perez is understood to be suffering.
Ahead of the green light the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 43 degrees.
Hamilton heads the queue in the pitlane, his car, like several others, fitted with a large aero rake. As heads out he is followed by Crawford, Mini, Vestri and Perez.
As more drivers heads out most are on hards, though the RB pair are on mediums.
Hamilton crosses the line at 34.642, while Perez responds with a 26.713 and Leclerc a 21.965.
Hadjar reports that his car is "turning to the right" on the straight.
As Antonelli goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 21.656, teammate Russell watches from the Mercedes garage.
Hulkenberg, Bearman and Antonelli are the first victims in terms of track limits, the Italian running wide at Turn 12.
"Something is smoking," reports Tsolov. He is assured that it is nothing to worry about.
Bearman goes top with a 21.884, however Iwasa responds with a 21.351.
As Tsolov's time is deleted, and Bearman's, Lindblad posts a 21.082 and Antonelli a 20.814.
Still unhappy, Hadjar is moving very slowly. "Something's wrong, I have no power, engine braking, I have an issue."
A 20.852 from Bearman - but will it stand - no it doesn't, yet again the Haas driver loses his time, and for the second time after running wide in Turn 2.
Lindblad goes second, ahead of Hulkenberg and Alonso.
Gasly goers third with a 21.078 but is demoted when Lindblad improves and Alonso goes second!
Quickest in all three sectors, Leclerc goes top with a 19.197. Russell has claimed that the Ferrari's smaller turbo will give the Maranello outfit an advantage this weekend.
Antonelli goes second, demoting Alonso, with a 20.432.
With 40 minutes remaining, Crawford and Slater have yet to post times, while Hamilton's currently 20thm 15.4s off the pace.
In quick succession, Antonelli and Perez get very close to the wall at Turn 16.
"That was a big moment," admits Fornaroli following a huge snap exiting Turn 11.
Hamilton improves but remains 13.6s off the pace. He subsequently ups the ante with a 21.030, albeit still 1.8s off his teammate's pace.
Piastri takes to the grass at Turn 1 following a significant lock-up.
Iwasa is currently third in Verstappen's car, while Hadjar is in the pits, his mechanics swarming over his car.
"We have to box this lap, we have an issue," Slater is told. The issues being a cooling fan still attached to the sidepod of his car.
Hamilton improves to within 0.699s of his teammate.
Audi has been noted for slater's car being in an unsafe condition.
Quickest in the final sector, Hamilton goes top with a 19.137. That was on hards, as Leclerc and Lindblad switch to softs.
Slater is told that his session is over.
Replays show a beautiful drift from Hamilton, while Crawford does a Piastri and takes to the grass at Turn 1.
Quickest in all three sectors, Leclerc retakes the top spot with an 18.128.
"What happened there," asks Fornaroli following another mysterious moment in the McLaren. "It's probably a combination of a few things," he is told, "old tyres, the bottoming and just pushing the braking a bit harder."
Antonelli (softs) splits the Ferraris with an 18.787, as Gasly (softs) goes fourth with a 19.210.
Herta complains of "super understeer" on his first lap, but adds that things improved on his second lap.
In ninth, Vestri currently the quickest of the 'rookies', with Iwasa tenth and Hirakawa eleventh.
Hadjar (softs) is back on track and immediately goes eighth with as 19.545.
Hamilton switches to the red-banded rubber as Iwasa goes fourth (19.113).
Vesti (softs) goes third with an 18.861, just 0.074s off Antonelli's pace, as Crawford stops on track at Turn 2.
The VSC is deployed.
As the VSC is withdrawn, Slater heads out again.
Tsolov reports a pain in his right leg, feeling his seat doesn't fit him.
"What the hell," says Sainz of a slow Vesti on the racing line.
Slater improves to 21st with a 20.945 as drivers continue to have their times deleted.
As the session ends Bearman's smoking Haas is pushed into its garage, while there are late excursions for Mini and Antonelli.
An interesting session, with some interesting performances, especially from the reserves, who would have thought that Alonso would out-pace both McLarens.
Ferrari looks strong, but then again that's what we said last weekend.
Leclerc is quickest, ahead of Antonelli, Vesti, Hamilton, Iwasa, Gasly, Alonso, Piastri, Bearman and Lindblad.
Hadjar is eleventh, ahead of Tsolov, Hulkenberg, Mini, Hirakawa, Sainz, Fornaroli, Perez, Crawford, Browning, Slater and Herta.
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