Mercedes dominated first practice ahead of this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix, with Valtteri Bottas quickest ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton can win his fourth world championship with a fifth place at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit but was over four tenths of a second off the pace during the Friday morning running.
Sebastian Vettel is the only driver who can deny Hamilton the title but was only fifth fastest for Ferrari behind Red Bull duo Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.
Valtteri Bottas was fastest for Mercedes during first practice for the Mexican Grand Prix
Bottas was over four tenths of a second quicker than Lewis Hamilton during first practice
MEXICAN GP FIRST PRACTICE
1. Bottas (Fin) Mercedes 1:17.824
2. Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes 1:18.290
3. Verstappen (Hol) Red Bull 1:18.395
4. Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:18.421
5. Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:18.586
6. Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:19.008
7. Perez (Mex) Force India 1:19.240
8. Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:19.346
9. Massa (Bra) Williams 1:19.443
10. Huelkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:19.552
11. Sainz (Spa) Renault 1:19.554
12. Stroll (Can) Williams 1:19.772
13. Magnussen (Den) Haas 1:20.644
14. Wehrlein (Ger) Sauber 1:20.971
15. Giovinazzi (Ita) Haas 1:21.269
16. Leclerc (Mon) Sauber 1:21.446
17. Gelael (Ind) Toro Rosso 1:21.639
18. Hartley (Nzl) Toro Rosso 1:21.747
19. Celis (Mex) Force India 1:22.342
20. Vandoorne (Be) McLaren
Hamilton ensured Mercedes dominated Friday morning by running second quickest
But Hamilton’s chief title rival Sebastian Vettel was only fifth quickest fir Ferrari
