Verstappen seals Mexico practice double as Norris leads chasing pack

Max Verstappen completed a Friday practice double at the Mexico City Grand Prix as Lando Norris emerged as the world champion's most likely pole challenger. Verstappen, who is seeking a record 16th victory of the season, gave Red Bull a perfect start to the weekend by setting a 1:18.686 to top McLaren's Lando Norris by just over a tenth of a second.Charles Leclerc took third for Ferrari, while Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, urged on by the hugely supportive crowd at his home race, was fourth. Either side of him there were surprise successes, with Valtteri Bottas fourth for Alfa Romeo and Daniel Ricciardo sixth for AlphaTauri. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Fernando Alonso loses control, spins then styles it out through the fast Turn Nine during P2 Fernando Alonso loses control, spins then styles it out through the fast Turn Nine during P2 Having finished 11th in first practice, Lewis Hamilton was once more unable to fulfil his hope of being able to challenge Red Bull as the seven-time world champion was seventh.His Mercedes team-mate George Russell was only 10th, having earlier been one of five drivers to sit out first practice as teams took the opportunity to fulfil their obligated young driver sessions.While Mercedes may be disappointed not to have shown more speed following their upgrades last weekend in Austin, the uniquely high altitude of Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez means there are likely to be significant overnight adjustments which could alter the pecking order. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Former strategist Bernie Collins explains the impact the high altitude will have on the cars at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Former strategist Bernie Collins explains the impact the high altitude will have on the cars at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Also out of position was Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who was only 11th having also missed the opening session.Further back, Aston Martin endured a torrid day as Lance Stroll finished 18th and Fernando Alonso 20th, with the Spaniard spinning off as he struggled in a car that has regressed since appearing to be Red Bull's biggest rival during the first half of the season.More to follow... Mexico City GP Practice Two Timesheet Driver Team Time 1. Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:18.686 2. Lando Norris McLaren +0.119 3. Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.266 4. Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo +0.269 5. Sergio Perez Red Bull +0.302 6. Daniel Ricciardo AlphaTauri +0.316 7. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +0.338 8. Esteban Ocon Alpine +0.391 9. Oscar Piastri McLaren +0.477 10. George Russell Mercedes +0.541 11. Carlos Sainz Ferrari +0.571 12. Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri +0.604 13. Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo +0.729 14. Alex Albon Williams +0.760 15. Nico Hulkenberg Haas +0.849 16. Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.956 17. Logan Sargeant Williams +1.214 18. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +1.389 19. Kevin Magnussen Haas +1.426 20. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +1.740 When to watch the Mexico City GP live only on Sky Sports F1Friday8:45pm: The F1 Show10:45pm: Mexico City GP Practice Two (also on Sky Sports Main Event)Saturday6.15pm: Mexico City GP Practice Three 9pm: Mexico City GP Qualifying build-up (also on Sky Sports Main Event)10pm: Mexico City GP Qualifying (also on Sky Sports Main Event) Sunday6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday Mexico City GP build-up (also on Sky Sports Main Event)8pm: The MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX (also on Sky Sports Main Event)10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico City GPF1 is in Mexico for the middle leg of the Americas triple header. Watch the whole Mexico City Grand Prix weekend live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday, with Sunday's race at 8pm. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW