Argentine driver Franco Colapinto delivered a positive performance in the opening practices for the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix, finishing ninth in FP1 and outperforming his teammates. In FP2, he ended eighteenth but again ahead of Pierre Gasly, despite car issues. Colapinto expressed satisfaction with the day, calling it one of his best Fridays.
The Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix kicked off on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, with Alpine's Franco Colapinto competing in the first two free practice sessions. In FP1, held from 15:30 to 16:30, Colapinto finished ninth, less than a second behind leader Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who set the fastest time of 1m18s380. The Argentine started on hard tires (C2), focusing on setup, then switched to softs (C5), briefly reaching fifth and showing control without errors, completing his program steadily. Estonian reserve driver Paul Aron, who replaced Pierre Gasly in this session, finished 15th, making Colapinto the top Alpine performer and outperforming his direct rival for the 2026 seat.
In FP2, from 19:00 to 20:00, with all full-time drivers on track, Colapinto dealt with traffic and car performance issues, ending 18th with a competitive time given Alpine's challenges. He again beat Gasly, who finished last in 20th, more than eight tenths behind the Argentine, logging 27 laps error-free and working on race pace with medium tires before testing softs. Red Bull's Max Verstappen topped the session with 1m17s392, followed by Leclerc and McLaren's Lando Norris, while championship leader Oscar Piastri placed 12th. Colapinto called the day positive: 'One of my best Fridays', highlighting his consistency despite the car's varying performance between sessions.
This weekend follows controversy from the United States GP, where Colapinto overtook Gasly ignoring team orders, earning support from French Alpine fans who criticized Gasly as 'slower'. The race is set for Sunday, October 26, at 17:00, covering 71 laps and 305.5 km. Four races remain in the season, with Verstappen closing to 40 points behind Piastri in the drivers' standings.
