Leclerc fastest as Antonelli returns for Mexico practice

Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in Friday’s opening practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix, while Kimi Antonelli returned to the track after missing Thursday’s media activities because of a viral illness. Leclerc’s 1:18.128 lap put him 0.659 seconds ahead of Antonelli, with Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti third while standing in for George Russell. Antonelli finished second in the first session and fourth in the second. The 20-year-old Mercedes driver holds a reported 123-point lead over Russell and needs two points on Sunday to clinch the championship, according to reports of the standings and title arithmetic. A ninth-place finish would secure the title. The championship remains undecided ahead of the race. Leclerc also topped the second practice session, recording a 1:17.827. Lando Norris was second, 0.103 seconds behind, and Russell was third. The practice results offer an early indication of pace, but they do not determine the race outcome. Friday’s first session included 10 drivers standing in for regular race drivers as teams provided track time to young drivers. Vesti was the fastest of them, and Japanese driver Ayumu Iwasa, replacing Max Verstappen at Red...