Mexico (AFP)

Britain's Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) set the fastest time of the first free practice session of the Mexican Grand Prix, the 18th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, on Friday at the Rodríguez Brothers circuit (4.304 km) in Mexico City.

He beat Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who won the event the previous two years.

Hamilton could be crowned world champion for the sixth time after Sunday's Grand Prix if he scores 14 points more than his teammate at Mercedes, Finland's Valtteri Bottas, the only one who can still challenge the title.

The latter is currently 64 points behind while there are four races by the end of the championship.

The session was interrupted by a road trip by Canadian Lance Stroll (Racing Point) without damage to the driver but which required repairs on his car. He finally finished 16th of this first practice session while his compatriot Nicolas Latifi, who took the wheel of the Williams of the Polish Robert Kubica for this session, made him the last time.

These first tests were held by a covered but dry weather while the rain could make its appearance for the 2nd free practice session scheduled from 14:00 local (21:00 French).

. 1st free practice session:

Lewis Hamilton (GBR / Mercedes) 1: 17.327 (25 laps)

Charles Leclerc (MON / Ferrari) 1: 17.446 (23)

Max Verstappen (NED / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 17.461 (17)

Alexander Albon (THA / Red Bull-Honda) 1: 17.949 (21)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN / Mercedes) 1: 18.005 (25)

Sebastian Vettel (GER / Ferrari) 1: 18.218 (20)

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP / McLaren-Renault) 1: 18.401 (21)

Pierre Gasly (FRA / Toro Rosso-Honda) 1: 18.593 (23)

Daniil Kvyat (RUS / Toro Rosso-Honda) 1: 18.835 (27)

Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 18.959 (22)

Nico Hulkenberg (GER / Renault) 1: 19.011 (22)

Kevin Magnussen (DEN / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 19.013 (22)

Kimi Raikkonen (FIN / Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 1: 19.205 (22)

Lando Norris (GBR / McLaren-Renault) 1: 19.299 (23)

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS / Renault) 1: 19.499 (23)

Lance Stroll (CAN / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 19.679 (21)

Sergio Perez (MEX / Racing Point-Mercedes) 1: 19.717 (23)

Romain Grosjean (FRA / Haas-Ferrari) 1: 19.850 (22)

George Russell (GBR / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 20.548 (26)

Nicholas Latifi (CAN / Williams-Mercedes) 1: 21.566 (30)

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