Mexican Grand Prix 2017: Mercedes set early pace as Valtteri Bottas leads Lewis Hamilton
MERCEDES dominated first practice at the Mexican Grand Prix with Valtteri Bottas holding the edge over Lewis Hamilton.
Valtteri Bottas was quickest in FP1
Hamilton, who could win the world championship this weekend, was nearly half a second behind his Finnish team-mate.
Bottas went around the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez track in a time of 1:17.824.
The Red Bulls were Mercedes’ closest challengers with Max Verstappen in third and Daniel Ricciardo in fourth.
Sebastian Vettel, who needs a win and non-finish by Hamilton to keep alive his championship hopes, was in fifth place ahead of his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.
Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle said after the session: "We don’t know the delta between tyres yet but it looks like we have a race on our hands.”
FP1 practice times
Lewis Hamilton could win the world championship this weekend
Home favourite Sergio Perez was seventh with Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Nico Huldenberg rounding out the top ten.
Another Mexican driver Alfonso Celis, standing in for Esteban Ocon, crashed his Force India at Turn 16 and caused a red flag.
McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne drove just three laps as his car was once again beset by engine problems.
Second practice is scheduled to take place at 8pm UK time.