From Max Verstappen's early crash to various other spins and stops, that was a pretty eventful second practice session. You can read about it all in Andrew Benson's report here.
We are pretty much done here so all that is really left for me to say is join us on Saturday at 15:30 GMT for final practice, followed by qualifying.
See you then.
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Lewis Hamilton flew to LA, did a bit of wrestling and partied after winning his third world title, but he arrived in Mexico this week having not spoken to Nico Rosberg about their first-corner clash at the US GP.
He has since said he does not plan to help his team-mate finish second.
David Coulthard believes the friendship between Hamilton and Rosberg has "spectacularly" broken down during their time together at Mercedes.
See what Coulthard has to say in full on the matter here.
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How many titles can Hamilton win?
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Red Bulls in the mix
Nico Rosberg finishes fastest in second practice then, but the Red Bulls are not far behind.
Daniil Kvyat, in second, was just two tenths of a second off Rosberg's best time, with Daniel Ricciardo three tenths of a second off.
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FP2 result
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FP2 top 10
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Chequered flag
Nico Rosberg (1:21.531) finishes fastest in second practice for the Mexican Grand Prix.
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"Tyres are already destroyed," Valtteri Bottas, on inters, reports. Fernando Alonso has had enough, bringing his McLaren back to the pits and climbing out.
One minute remaining...
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How many more titles will Hamilton win?
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Fernando Alonso pops back out with intermediate tyres on for the final few minutes of the session. Lewis Hamilton has done likewise, as has Felipe Massa, who is told he has enough time for three more timed laps.
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Eight minutes to go in second practice and the umbrellas are going up in the stands. Carlos Sainz locks up and goes straight on at the first corner, prompting other drivers to take it easy as the conditions change.
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How many titles can Hamilton win?
We've been asking throughout practice how many titles you think Lewis Hamilton can go on to win after claiming his third on Sunday.
Keep them coming to #bbcf1, text in on 81111 (UK only) and post them on the BBC Sport Facebook page.
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Jenson Button is informed that rain is still expected to arrive before the end of the session, with Turn 6 the first corner expected to get wet.
Button, meanwhile, is ninth fastest with 1:23.109, three tenths of a second slower than Fernando Alonso in eighth.
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Some spots of rain on the cameras. Meanwhile, in Austin...
As it stands
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With 15 minutes left, it looks like Nico Rosberg is likely to end FP2 with the fastest time (1:21.531), with the drivers embarking on their long-run practice at the moment.
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BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
By the way, if you are not already listening, Jolyon Palmer is giving some great driver insight on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra right now.
Rain coming
Drivers are being told of some rain forecast for around 10 minutes, so the track is getting busy as teams look to get as much running in as they can in the current conditions.
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Go! Go! Go!
Romain Grosjean helps the marshals wheel away his Lotus and we are back under way with 23 minutes remaining.
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Meanwhile, replays show the pit entry bollard skimming across the track after Valtteri Bottas' late decision to head in sees him drive his Williams into it. Out scampers a marshal to recover the bollard while the red flag is out.
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Romain Grosjean pulled off the circuit in the esses section. He reports a problem with clutch before climbing out and having a look at the rear of his Lotus.
Jenson Button is back out on the medium tyre. He has some catching up to do on the rest of the field, having spent much of this session back in the McLaren garage.
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It may not be high-tech, but cutting holes into the car appears to be doing the business as Red Bull muscle in between the two Mercedes on the timesheet.
Daniil Kvyat goes second fastest - just 0.2s off Nico Rosberg's time - with Daniel Ricciardo third fastest.
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We saw Nico Rosberg suffer from the effect high altitude has on the brakes in first practice, with the thin air making it harder to keep them cool and Mercedes blast cool air into the wheels as soon as Rosberg and Hamilton return to the pits in an effort to keep the temperatures down.
Meanwhile, Red Bull are combating the overheating by cutting some holes in their cars.
Quite amazing to think such a basic method is utilised in then high-tech world of F1...
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Encouraging stuff for McLaren with Fernando Alonso sixth fastest on his soft tyre run, just two tenths of a second down on Valtteri Bottas' best effort in the Williams.
Still no lap-time for Jenson Button, however, who has managed just two exploratory laps in this session.
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Mexico celebrates their annual Day of the Dead holiday this weekend, and the marshals are clearly getting into spirit of things...
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Nico Rosberg reclaims P1 with a 1:21.531 - 0.403s faster than Lewis Hamilton's best effort. Behind the Mercedes, Ferrari lead the best of the rest with Sebastian Vettel third and Kimi Raikkonen fourth. They are around 0.8s slower than the Mercedes pair.
"The innovative ‘stadium’ section has drawn praise, even if the very low-grip new surface was not massively popular with the drivers in first practice. The parkland setting makes the location look quite attractive on television - the circuit snakes through verdant surroundings with a mountainous backdrop, with even the famous Popocatepetl volcano visible to the south-east - belying the traffic chaos and urban sprawl outside."
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That stadium section captures the atmosphere superbly as each time a car weaves its way through that twisting section of the circuit you can hear the loud cheers from the fans in the stands.
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Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have joined the yellow-walled tyre party and they immediately brings about a sense of familiarity to practice by going first and second fastest respectively. Hamilton went top with a 1:21.961, with Rosberg three tenths of a second slower.
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Seven drivers have got the soft tyres bolted on, Carlos Sainz and Romain Grosjean among them included and they are currently second and third fastest respectively.
Here comes the rain?
Toro Rosso team radio
Carlos Sainz: "It's starting to rain a tiny bit"
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These. Are. Brilliant.
If you are following the action in Britain, and wave, he might just see you...
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Sergio Perez is the first driver to make the switch to the faster soft tyre compound but it is Nico Hulkenberg - still on mediums - who leaps into P1 with 1:23.290.
"I am just looking at the tyres that have come off Lewis' car. Front left there are big gouges out of it at the moment. It looks like it may have blistered."
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One hour in and 17 drivers have managed at least one timed lap. Just Jenson Button, Felipe Massa and Max Verstappen - who is unlikely to get back out - yet to set a lap time.
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Sherlock Holmes would be proud of this level of deduction.
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Everyone else might be like Bambi on ice, but Pastor Maldonado is happy enough...
The track is clearly still very slippery with those moments for Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas.
Now Sebastian Vettel has a fair old wobble at the pit entry, almost entering sideways before correcting himself, before Lewis Hamilton spins!
Some real rear grip issues early on in FP2.
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Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter
Quote Message: There are some heavy, dark, grey clouds approaching
There are some heavy, dark, grey clouds approaching
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Lewis Hamilton goes fastest for the first time today with 1:24.016. Nico Rosberg is fourth fastest, 0.6s off Hamilton's time.
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Valtteri Bottas locked up heading into Turn 1, scraping the barriers and losing his front wing in the process.
"I don't know what happened with the brakes," he says.
Yellow flag
Yellow flags and they are for Valtteri Bottas, whose Williams is minus its front wing...
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Pedro Rodriguez is Mexico's only Formula 1 grand prix winner.
He finished fourth in the 1968 Mexico GP - the best result to date for a Mexican on home.
Sergio Perez was fifth in Austin last-time out. His best finish of the season was third in Russia. Could he make history and reproduce that result on Sunday?
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Superb noise as home favourite Sergio Perez roars through the baseball stadium section. It may only be practice, but the crowd are loving F1 racing back in the country already.
"Jenson Button's car is currently still up on its stilts. they are trying to fire it up again before they put the floor back on the car. Hopefully he can get out soon."
Go! Go! Go!
Green flag and we resume with one hour and 17 minutes remaining for the drivers to learn as much of the circuit as they can.
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Before that crash there were a few early times cropping up on the board, with Kimi Raikkonen leading the way with 1:25.820 ahead of Fernando Alonso (1:25.850) and Marcus Ericsson (1:27.365).
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Max Verstappen climbs onto the back of a scooter and is driven past the hospitality areas and back to the paddock as the recovery truck arrives on scene to deal with the Toro Rosso.
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Oh dear. Pushing a little too early? Max Verstappen, fastest in FP1, loses the rear of his Toro Rosso heading into Turn 16 and smacks side on into the barrier.
"I crashed. Sorry," he says before climbing out of his car to asses the damage, his front left tyre twisted round the wrong way.
Red flag
We've got a red flag and it is for Max Verstappen's Toro Rosso...
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Mansell on Mansell
Go! Go! Go!
The track is open and second practice is under way. Marcus Ericsson is the first man to burst out of the pits and onto the circuit.
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BBC coverage
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
Right then, almost go time. You can enhance your second-practice following experience by tuning into BBC Radio 5 live sports extra - either online or on the radio - right now.
"Manor Formula 1 bosses John Booth and Graeme Lowdon are set to quit the team at the end of the season.
"Booth, the team principal, and Lowdon, the president and sporting director, have run the team since its debut as Virgin Racing in 2010.
"Both men refused to comment on their prospective departures, which have been confirmed by sources close to the team."
Gutierrez set for Haas drive
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First up, the worst-kept secret in F1 is out, with Sauber driver Esteban Gutierrez set to be named as the second driver for the new US-based Haas team.
OK, 90 minutes of second practice gets under way in just under 10 minutes but before it does, I'll quickly bring you up to date with some news from around F1 with the help of our chief F1 writer Andrew Benson...
How far can he go?
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Lewis Hamilton bagged world title number three on Sunday and, at just 30, you'd think he still has plenty left in the tank.
Nigel Mansell thinks he can get close to Michael Schumacher's record seven titles, but what do you think? Can he win more? Will Nico Rosberg win a title? Or has he now missed the best chance he will get?
Let us know via #bbcf1, text in on 81111 (UK only) and have your say on the BBC Sport Facebook page.
The need for speed
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At higher altitude the air is less dense, meaning the cars are subjected to less drag. As a result, they are going very fast. Very fast indeed.
In first practice, F1 cars reached their highest top speeds of the season as Lewis Hamilton broke the the 360 km/h (223 mph) barrier.
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Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"Fascinating first practice in Mexico. Lack of grip the biggest complaint from drivers; now thought unlikely to equal pole simulations of 1m19s."
“It’s fair to say that the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will provide a unique challenge for the Formula 1 teams and drivers this weekend. As Fernando Alonso put it: ‘Very different part of the circuit with a very long straight and then the second sector with medium speed corners and the third sector with very low speed corners.’
“Mercedes F1 executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe said that because of all those slow- and medium-speed corners, the cars will be running in maximum downforce specification, in terms of wing profiles and angles. However, the altitude - the track is at nearly 8,000 feet - means the wings are less effective and will generate only the sort of download seen at Monza, where the teams use skinny wings.
"As drag is reduced as well, the cars will be travelling faster in a straight line and with less drag when the driver lifts off the throttle, the brakes will have to work harder, and have less effective cooling at the same time. So it all adds up to quite a challenge on the engineering side. The turbo will compensate for the loss of air pressure in the engine, but will generate more heat in doing so, which is also harder to dissipate, so all in all there could be some interesting situations in the race.”
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Hello! Welcome to our coverage of second practice for theMexican Grand Prix.
F1 drivers took a step into the unknown earlier today, getting their first taste of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit.
As a result, there were a few eyebrow-raising moments in first practice as Max Verstappen finished fastest with newly crowned world champion Lewis Hamilton down in 11th.
Nico Rosberg, meanwhile, was on fire. Well, his brakes were as Mercedes had a little trouble adapting to the high altitude and thin air...
Driving to the Max in Mexico
FerrariCopyright: Ferrari
The last time a race was held in Mexico, Boyz II Men were riding high in the music charts, Quentin Tarantino brought us Reservoir Dogs and Max Verstappen was not even a twinkle in Jos' eye.
Yet the 18-year-old, in F1's first appearance in Mexico in 23 years, has already made history on the circuit - becoming the youngest-ever driver to top a timed practice session.
Not a bad start to the weekend by the youngster...
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At around 2,200m above sea level, the challenge of racing at altitude was evident in that session. The thinner the air, the harder it is to cool the engine and the brakes. Expect more flaming wheels like we saw with Nico Rosberg's
We're going to take a brief break, with second practice getting under way at 20:00 GMT. We'll reboot our coverage half-an-hour before. I hope to see you then.
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How many titles can Hamilton win?
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Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"Teams haven't been able to prepare for this like they have other races and look what has happened. It will be fascinating to see how they come to terms with it all in FP2."
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So a Renault-powered one-two at the top of the timesheet in first practice, with Lewis Hamilton down in 11th. Nico Rosberg improved in his late reappearance, but only enough to finish P6. Early days, but some work to do for Mercedes after issues with overheating brakes.
FP1 - the rest
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FP1 top 10
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Chequered flag
Max Verstappen finishes fastest in first practice for the Mexican Grand Prix.
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There's no improvement from Nico Rosberg in his first lap on his return to the circuit, but he's got time to have another go. Lewis Hamilton is also back out.
How to warm up the tyres? Or maybe not...
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...and Verstappen goes fastest of all with 1:25.990. Five minutes left. Any late improvements from elsewhere?
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Max Verstappen is up into P2 after a 1:26.495, but he is on a good lap again, fastest of all through the middle sector...
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Scratch what I said earlier, Nico Rosberg IS getting back out for the final few minutes.
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Ten minutes to go and there are 14 cars out on the circuit as Kimi Raikkonen clocks the second fastest time with 1:26.877, half a second down on Daniil Kvyat's leading effort.
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Valtteri Bottas, currently fourth fastest, spins in the Williams at Turn 6, prompting a brief wave of the yellow flags. No drama as he quickly gets himself back on his way.
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Nico Rosberg is not getting back out in this session after his brakes overheated earlier, but Lewis Hamilton is. The three-time world champion currently has the ninth fastest time with 12 minutes remaining.
"Fernando Alonso is on the intermediate tyre on a dry track and the reason for that is because McLaren have discovered a cut on the last set of prime tyres he was using, so they don't want to risk going out on the prime tyre until they know why that cut appeared."
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Into the final 20 minutes of the session and there's once again a lull on the track. Just Carlos Sainz, Pastor Maldonado and Fernando Alonso out there. Alonso, interestingly, is on the intermediate tyre...
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Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"What we are seeing down with Mercedes and Nico Rosberg reminds me of something. Rob Smedley said to me on Thursday about just how unprepared teams feel coming into this race. The tarmac was laid very late so there is very little data about it. The top speed at the end of the pit straight is much higher than the teams were expecting. It will be a moving target and when they put the soft tyre on it will go faster again. A lot for the teams to think about."
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After that fiery drama, we have a Red Bull one-two at the moment with Daniil Kvyat fastest after a 1:26.295 ahead of Daniel Ricciardo. Nico Rosberg is third fastest.
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"Cool these brakes down Lewis," Hamilton is told over the radio. "They are too hot. Keep cooling the brakes."
Sage advice after what just happened to his team-mate!
Wheels of fire
Yellow flags as Nico Rosberg, who has the fastest time of the session, brings his car to a screeching stop as he goes off the circuit, and just stops himself from hitting a barrier. He rights his car but his brakes are on fire! Replays show him limping the Mercedes back to the pits with fire inside his rear tyres!
Yellow flag
A brief flutter of the yellow flags as Felipe Nasr spins at the last corner inside the stadium section. He manages to avoid contact with nearby barriers and rights himself before getting back on his way.
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Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"I've just gone next door to Jenson Button and Nico Hulkenberg is out of the car. It appears the team are working on the steering rack. It appears to be quite a big job but let us hope he can get back out soon."
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How many titles can Hamilton win?
Bad news for Button
Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"Jenson Button is out of the car having reported a power issue. It might be an early bath for Jenson, who was given a new power unit but it appears to have let him down already."
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Jolyon Palmer, for the briefest of moments, was fastest of all after a 1:29.163 before Nico Rosberg knocked him off top spot with 1:28.399. Replays, though, did show Palmer cutting off a bit of Turn 10 when he ran wide.
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All 20 drivers have put times on the board, with Jolyon Palmer and Nico Hulkenberg the last two to do so.
Hulkenberg, though, is back in his garage at the moment as Force India take a look at a brake problem in his car.
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Plenty of drivers are still in their respective garages with some tinkering being done to their cars. Daniel Ricciardo is out on track, and he becomes the first of the drivers to dip below 1:30 today as he goes fastest with 1:29.502, just over a second faster than Valtteri Bottas.
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Sergio Perez's favourite football team are showing their support for the Mexican driver...
No rush at Merecedes
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How far can Hamilton go?
Get involved #bbcf1
I read earlier today some quotes from Nigel Mansell, who thinks Lewis Hamilton will get "very close" to matching Michael Schumacher's record haul of seven Formula 1 titles.
Do you agree? If not, how many more do you think he can win and why?
Let us know via #bbcf1, text in on 81111 (UK only) and have your say on the BBC Sport Facebook page.
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A lull in circuit activity now with the first-half hour of the session gone, drivers back in the pits to hand back the 'bonus' set of prime tyres.
As it stands it is 1) Bottas 2) Hamilton 3) Perez 4) Nasr 5) Vettel 6) Massa 7) Raikkonen 8) Sainz 9) Rosberg 10) Verstappen
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Jolyon Palmer is in the Lotus for today's first practice session, and for the remaining first practice sessions of the season for that matter, replacing Romain Grosjean. Palmer is of course replacing Grosjean as Pastor Maldonado's team-mate in 2016.
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Williams driver Valtteri Bottas speaking to former world champion Nigel MansellImage caption: Williams driver Valtteri Bottas speaking to former world champion Nigel Mansell
Valtteri Bottas, having switched to the medium compound, goes fastest with 1:30.678 and the other drivers see that time as an indication that it is time for them to make the change too.
Lewis Hamilton, on his first lap with the new boots on, goes second fastest with 1:31.160. He was fastest of all through the second sector but ran a little wid in the third to lose a bit of time.
A tale of two pictures
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
I appreciate that pictures can be deceiving, catching people at a moment that might not reflect their actual mood accurately at that point in time, but I don't think these two pictures are far off displaying how Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are feeling at this moment in time...
“Nico Rosberg, being the analytical sort of chap he is, asked his Mercedes engineers to look into reasons for the mistake that cost him the lead of the US Grand Prix to Lewis Hamilton - and therefore allowed Hamilton to win the championship last weekend. What did they come up with? ‘It was gust of wind, a big one,’ he said. ‘I’m serious! But everybody has it, and so you can't really use it as an excuse, It's still a mistake, but I understand my mistake now, and that's important, for me to understand it. It was a very unusual scenario which happened only once in all those laps. I understand the mistake and that helps me a lot moving forward. I lost a lot of rear downforce as a result.’
“It’s fair to say the reaction to that remark was sceptical. And it’s also fair to say that Rosberg was less than impressed by Hamilton’s post-race remark that it is the ‘worst thing’ to be his team-mate. Asked for his reaction, Rosberg said: ‘That comment makes it even better because I will get even more pleasure beating him next time, hearing such a comment.’”
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Nico Rosberg may have lost out on the world championship to Lewis Hamilton, but he'll still be looking to finish the season strongly. He is also very much in a battle with Sebastian Vettel to finish second.
After an initial check of the circuit, Rosberg spent a fair bit of time back in the garage but he is back out now and has just gone second fastest with 1:33.174.
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Sebastian Vettel relays the conditions for each corner back to his team in a very robotic manner.
"1,2,3 dry, 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 still a bit damp. 12,13 seems a bit dry with a bit of damp at 13, 14 dry, 15 ok and 16 damp."
Vettel is one of nine drivers to have completed a timed lap in these early stages, with Carlos Sainz now fastest after a 1:33.095.
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The dry patches are increasing in size with 15 minutes of the session gone and Max Verstappen, who wasn't even born when F1 last raced in Mexico, sets the first timed lap of the day with a 1:35.283.
Fernando on ice
A few minor wobbles from some of the cars on the circuit, with drivers reporting it is very slippery.
"It is like ice everywhere," reports Fernando Alonso. "On both the dry patches and the wet patches.Very strange."
"No prizes for guessing the man in demand on Thursday - local hero Sergio Perez has been mobbed. If he’s bothered by it, though, it seems to be only in a good way. Perez describes racing in his home grand prix as ‘a dream come true’, adding: ‘It’s going to be the most special day of my career.’
"As for the pressure he will inevitably be under, Perez said: ‘Obviously there is a lot of pressure but I take it as a very positive one, there will be a lot of energy, people really supporting me and what I have to do is what I do every weekend, it’s focus on myself. Once I put the helmet on, it’s time to focus on what I’m doing, I have to do the normal procedure that I do throughout the races. There are a lot of things that we have to do before the race start, before qualifying and so on. Obviously there is a lot of pressure but a very positive type of pressure and I see that it will give me a very good motivation to do well this Sunday.’”
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There's a decent crowd in the stands already, all no doubt waiting to catch a glimpse of local favourite Sergio Perez and he gives them what they are wish for by heading out for an installation lap.
Team radio
Mercedes: "There's quite a lot of spray from T4-5, caution through there."
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Very tentative first venture out as the drivers get accustomed to a new circuit. The track has been declared wet so it is intermediate boots for the time being.
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Go! Go! Go!
There may be no rainfall but the track is certainly a little damp as first practice gets under way. No-one is hanging about either, with several drivers getting on with things immediately.
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
“I like to walk the track on a Thursday - it gives you a real sense of the place that is very useful as the weekend develops. And this track is very much a park circuit, with elements of Albert Park, Montreal and perhaps even Monza.
“The first straight goes on for ever and is wide initially, then narrowing towards the first complex. The stands there are steeply tiered and reach right down to the track, providing a close-up experience, a little like the first turn in Montreal.
“Once into the complex, I don't think there’s the space to run side by side, especially after the second apex. Then the track runs flat out to a second complex, where the wall on the left on entry to the second right hander is almost on the circuit. Again there should be some good viewing here.
“From there the cars accelerate towards the Esses, which are less demanding than on the old circuit but should see the cars cornering at medium to high speed before heading down towards the baseball stadium. While this final section is very tight, and the F1 cars won’t be much fun at such slow speed, especially at the hairpin inside, the atmosphere there should be fantastic, and with the podium in there as well, the top three drivers are going to feel a lot of love!
“Despite the fact that stands are still being finished and paint applied to track edges, the whole place feels smart, modern and revived; I was here in 2007 with the now-defunct A1GP series and it was atmospheric but rather sad. This, though, has been a very effective update, and I'm looking forward to seeing the cars out there.”
Man under the mask
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Fancy a quiz? I fancy a quiz (is guessing someone's identity a quiz?).
Can you name the former F1 driver under the mask in the middle of this picture?
The most significant alteration to the circuit is the legendary Peraltada corner, which has been cut in half and the track now twists its way through a baseball stadium section, and it looks amazing.
A blast from the past
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Nigel Mansell won the last race in Mexico back in 1992 on his way to winning the world championship.
Mansell was also responsible for one of the most daring manoeuvres in F1 history, overtaking Gerhard Berger on the outside of Turn 14 - the famous Peraltada corner - exiting at 192mph.
Turn 17 of the now redesigned corner has been named after Mansell as recognition of his skill and bravery that day.
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Phew!
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Erm, get your skates on lads. Practice starts soon...
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OK then, time for a quick gander at today's schedule.
First practice gets under way at 16:00 GMT and you can listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.
Then we have second practice at 20:00 GMT, with commentary again on sports extra.
You can listen and follow live text commentary on this very page.
The people love Perez
Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Sergio Perez meets the president of MexicoImage caption: Sergio Perez meets the president of Mexico
"Two things immediately strike you about Mexico City. One, the traffic. It’s awful. Two, how much this country seems to love Sergio Perez. At this stage, it’s difficult to work out whether Mexico is in love with F1 or just in love with ‘Checo’.
"Everywhere you go in town there are posters of Perez, mostly advertising his sponsors’ products and Fernando Alonso - a national hero in his home country - said prior to an interview I did with him on Thursday that it feels to him like being in Spain, such is the fans' reaction towards Perez.”
No rain today
A step into the unknown
SauberCopyright: Sauber
Hello! Welcome to our coverage of practice for the Mexican Grand Prix.
The battle for the drivers' and constructors' championships may be over,but the show must go on, and where better than at a venue F1 has not been to for 23 years.
And, after spending most our time counting rain drops and watching drivers dancing in practice for the United States Grand Prix last-time out, things are looking good for plenty of Friday action...
“Lewis Hamilton arrived in Mexico as a three-time world champion, and very chilled and relaxed about it he was, too. You can read about what he’s been up to and what he thinks about it in his BBC Sport column, but it will come as no surprise that much of the questioning he faced on his arrival in Mexico City was about the fall-out from a couple of incidents with team-mate Nico Rosberg at the last race in Austin - their touch at Turn One, where Hamilton took the lead and ‘cap-gate’, as Wolff put it with his tongue in his cheek.
“Hamilton said he ‘didn’t think we really need to’ talk about the Turn One incident, even if team boss Toto Wollf, while playing it down, said he felt they did. Hamilton added: ‘I think Toto feels that he needs to perhaps sit with Nico to see where his head’s at. Obviously we don’t want any tension in the team. Generally we do often come together and just keep it transparent. I don’t really have anything to say about it but of course I’m sure we will sit down and see what Nico’s feeling and whatever emotions he has and try and dilute them and then move on. In terms of the cap thing, I don’t know. It’s pretty funny so I don’t really have much else to say about it.’”
Formula 1 smackdown
MercedesCopyright: Mercedes
"I took the dude down."
Talking about taking part in some wrestling ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix this week, Lewis Hamilton may as well have been describing his victory over Nico Rosberg in the battle for the world championship.
Hamilton wrapped up his third title on Sunday in convincing fashion, delivering a decisive blow to Rosberg's hopes, as well as to the German's pride.
With three races remaining, focus now starts turning to 2016. Will Rosberg finish strongly to suggest he can regroup and challenge next season? Or will Hamilton send out a warning to his would-be challengers with a further display of strength?
Live Reporting
Gary Rose
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From Max Verstappen's early crash to various other spins and stops, that was a pretty eventful second practice session. You can read about it all in Andrew Benson's report here.
We are pretty much done here so all that is really left for me to say is join us on Saturday at 15:30 GMT for final practice, followed by qualifying.
See you then.
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Lewis Hamilton flew to LA, did a bit of wrestling and partied after winning his third world title, but he arrived in Mexico this week having not spoken to Nico Rosberg about their first-corner clash at the US GP.
He has since said he does not plan to help his team-mate finish second.
David Coulthard believes the friendship between Hamilton and Rosberg has "spectacularly" broken down during their time together at Mercedes.
See what Coulthard has to say in full on the matter here.
Get involved #bbcf1
How many titles can Hamilton win?
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Red Bulls in the mix
Nico Rosberg finishes fastest in second practice then, but the Red Bulls are not far behind.
Daniil Kvyat, in second, was just two tenths of a second off Rosberg's best time, with Daniel Ricciardo three tenths of a second off.
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FP2 result
FP2 top 10
Chequered flag
Nico Rosberg (1:21.531) finishes fastest in second practice for the Mexican Grand Prix.
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"Tyres are already destroyed," Valtteri Bottas, on inters, reports. Fernando Alonso has had enough, bringing his McLaren back to the pits and climbing out.
One minute remaining...
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How many more titles will Hamilton win?
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Fernando Alonso pops back out with intermediate tyres on for the final few minutes of the session. Lewis Hamilton has done likewise, as has Felipe Massa, who is told he has enough time for three more timed laps.
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Eight minutes to go in second practice and the umbrellas are going up in the stands. Carlos Sainz locks up and goes straight on at the first corner, prompting other drivers to take it easy as the conditions change.
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How many titles can Hamilton win?
We've been asking throughout practice how many titles you think Lewis Hamilton can go on to win after claiming his third on Sunday.
Keep them coming to #bbcf1, text in on 81111 (UK only) and post them on the BBC Sport Facebook page.
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Jenson Button is informed that rain is still expected to arrive before the end of the session, with Turn 6 the first corner expected to get wet.
Button, meanwhile, is ninth fastest with 1:23.109, three tenths of a second slower than Fernando Alonso in eighth.
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Some spots of rain on the cameras. Meanwhile, in Austin...
As it stands
With 15 minutes left, it looks like Nico Rosberg is likely to end FP2 with the fastest time (1:21.531), with the drivers embarking on their long-run practice at the moment.
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BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
By the way, if you are not already listening, Jolyon Palmer is giving some great driver insight on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra right now.
Rain coming
Drivers are being told of some rain forecast for around 10 minutes, so the track is getting busy as teams look to get as much running in as they can in the current conditions.
Go! Go! Go!
Romain Grosjean helps the marshals wheel away his Lotus and we are back under way with 23 minutes remaining.
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Meanwhile, replays show the pit entry bollard skimming across the track after Valtteri Bottas' late decision to head in sees him drive his Williams into it. Out scampers a marshal to recover the bollard while the red flag is out.
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Romain Grosjean pulled off the circuit in the esses section. He reports a problem with clutch before climbing out and having a look at the rear of his Lotus.
Red flag
Red flag and it is for Romain Grosjean's Lotus...
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Jenson Button is back out on the medium tyre. He has some catching up to do on the rest of the field, having spent much of this session back in the McLaren garage.
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It may not be high-tech, but cutting holes into the car appears to be doing the business as Red Bull muscle in between the two Mercedes on the timesheet.
Daniil Kvyat goes second fastest - just 0.2s off Nico Rosberg's time - with Daniel Ricciardo third fastest.
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We saw Nico Rosberg suffer from the effect high altitude has on the brakes in first practice, with the thin air making it harder to keep them cool and Mercedes blast cool air into the wheels as soon as Rosberg and Hamilton return to the pits in an effort to keep the temperatures down.
Meanwhile, Red Bull are combating the overheating by cutting some holes in their cars.
Quite amazing to think such a basic method is utilised in then high-tech world of F1...
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Encouraging stuff for McLaren with Fernando Alonso sixth fastest on his soft tyre run, just two tenths of a second down on Valtteri Bottas' best effort in the Williams.
Still no lap-time for Jenson Button, however, who has managed just two exploratory laps in this session.
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Mexico celebrates their annual Day of the Dead holiday this weekend, and the marshals are clearly getting into spirit of things...
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Nico Rosberg reclaims P1 with a 1:21.531 - 0.403s faster than Lewis Hamilton's best effort. Behind the Mercedes, Ferrari lead the best of the rest with Sebastian Vettel third and Kimi Raikkonen fourth. They are around 0.8s slower than the Mercedes pair.
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Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
"The innovative ‘stadium’ section has drawn praise, even if the very low-grip new surface was not massively popular with the drivers in first practice. The parkland setting makes the location look quite attractive on television - the circuit snakes through verdant surroundings with a mountainous backdrop, with even the famous Popocatepetl volcano visible to the south-east - belying the traffic chaos and urban sprawl outside."
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That stadium section captures the atmosphere superbly as each time a car weaves its way through that twisting section of the circuit you can hear the loud cheers from the fans in the stands.
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Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have joined the yellow-walled tyre party and they immediately brings about a sense of familiarity to practice by going first and second fastest respectively. Hamilton went top with a 1:21.961, with Rosberg three tenths of a second slower.
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Seven drivers have got the soft tyres bolted on, Carlos Sainz and Romain Grosjean among them included and they are currently second and third fastest respectively.
Here comes the rain?
Toro Rosso team radio
Carlos Sainz: "It's starting to rain a tiny bit"
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These. Are. Brilliant.
If you are following the action in Britain, and wave, he might just see you...
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Sergio Perez is the first driver to make the switch to the faster soft tyre compound but it is Nico Hulkenberg - still on mediums - who leaps into P1 with 1:23.290.
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Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter
"I am just looking at the tyres that have come off Lewis' car. Front left there are big gouges out of it at the moment. It looks like it may have blistered."
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One hour in and 17 drivers have managed at least one timed lap. Just Jenson Button, Felipe Massa and Max Verstappen - who is unlikely to get back out - yet to set a lap time.
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Sherlock Holmes would be proud of this level of deduction.
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Everyone else might be like Bambi on ice, but Pastor Maldonado is happy enough...
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Spin!
The track is clearly still very slippery with those moments for Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas.
Now Sebastian Vettel has a fair old wobble at the pit entry, almost entering sideways before correcting himself, before Lewis Hamilton spins!
Some real rear grip issues early on in FP2.
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Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter
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Lewis Hamilton goes fastest for the first time today with 1:24.016. Nico Rosberg is fourth fastest, 0.6s off Hamilton's time.
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Valtteri Bottas locked up heading into Turn 1, scraping the barriers and losing his front wing in the process.
"I don't know what happened with the brakes," he says.
Yellow flag
Yellow flags and they are for Valtteri Bottas, whose Williams is minus its front wing...
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Pedro Rodriguez is Mexico's only Formula 1 grand prix winner.
He finished fourth in the 1968 Mexico GP - the best result to date for a Mexican on home.
Sergio Perez was fifth in Austin last-time out. His best finish of the season was third in Russia. Could he make history and reproduce that result on Sunday?
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Superb noise as home favourite Sergio Perez roars through the baseball stadium section. It may only be practice, but the crowd are loving F1 racing back in the country already.
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Jenson Button, by the way, has at least a 20-place grid penalty to serve this weekend for two engines, which could increase to 50, meaning he will start Sunday's race in Austin...
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Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter
"Jenson Button's car is currently still up on its stilts. they are trying to fire it up again before they put the floor back on the car. Hopefully he can get out soon."
Go! Go! Go!
Green flag and we resume with one hour and 17 minutes remaining for the drivers to learn as much of the circuit as they can.
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Before that crash there were a few early times cropping up on the board, with Kimi Raikkonen leading the way with 1:25.820 ahead of Fernando Alonso (1:25.850) and Marcus Ericsson (1:27.365).
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Max Verstappen climbs onto the back of a scooter and is driven past the hospitality areas and back to the paddock as the recovery truck arrives on scene to deal with the Toro Rosso.
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Oh dear. Pushing a little too early? Max Verstappen, fastest in FP1, loses the rear of his Toro Rosso heading into Turn 16 and smacks side on into the barrier.
"I crashed. Sorry," he says before climbing out of his car to asses the damage, his front left tyre twisted round the wrong way.
Red flag
We've got a red flag and it is for Max Verstappen's Toro Rosso...
Mansell on Mansell
Go! Go! Go!
The track is open and second practice is under way. Marcus Ericsson is the first man to burst out of the pits and onto the circuit.
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BBC coverage
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
Right then, almost go time. You can enhance your second-practice following experience by tuning into BBC Radio 5 live sports extra - either online or on the radio - right now.
How many titles can Hamilton win?
Get involved #bbcf1
Manors bosses to quit
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
"Manor Formula 1 bosses John Booth and Graeme Lowdon are set to quit the team at the end of the season.
"Booth, the team principal, and Lowdon, the president and sporting director, have run the team since its debut as Virgin Racing in 2010.
"Both men refused to comment on their prospective departures, which have been confirmed by sources close to the team."
Gutierrez set for Haas drive
First up, the worst-kept secret in F1 is out, with Sauber driver Esteban Gutierrez set to be named as the second driver for the new US-based Haas team.
The Mexican, 24, will join Franco-Swiss Romain Grosjean in the team, who will make their debut in 2016.
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OK, 90 minutes of second practice gets under way in just under 10 minutes but before it does, I'll quickly bring you up to date with some news from around F1 with the help of our chief F1 writer Andrew Benson...
How far can he go?
Get involved #bbcf1
Lewis Hamilton bagged world title number three on Sunday and, at just 30, you'd think he still has plenty left in the tank.
Nigel Mansell thinks he can get close to Michael Schumacher's record seven titles, but what do you think? Can he win more? Will Nico Rosberg win a title? Or has he now missed the best chance he will get?
Let us know via #bbcf1, text in on 81111 (UK only) and have your say on the BBC Sport Facebook page.
The need for speed
At higher altitude the air is less dense, meaning the cars are subjected to less drag. As a result, they are going very fast. Very fast indeed.
In first practice, F1 cars reached their highest top speeds of the season as Lewis Hamilton broke the the 360 km/h (223 mph) barrier.
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Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"Fascinating first practice in Mexico. Lack of grip the biggest complaint from drivers; now thought unlikely to equal pole simulations of 1m19s."
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Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
“It’s fair to say that the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez will provide a unique challenge for the Formula 1 teams and drivers this weekend. As Fernando Alonso put it: ‘Very different part of the circuit with a very long straight and then the second sector with medium speed corners and the third sector with very low speed corners.’
“Mercedes F1 executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe said that because of all those slow- and medium-speed corners, the cars will be running in maximum downforce specification, in terms of wing profiles and angles. However, the altitude - the track is at nearly 8,000 feet - means the wings are less effective and will generate only the sort of download seen at Monza, where the teams use skinny wings.
"As drag is reduced as well, the cars will be travelling faster in a straight line and with less drag when the driver lifts off the throttle, the brakes will have to work harder, and have less effective cooling at the same time. So it all adds up to quite a challenge on the engineering side. The turbo will compensate for the loss of air pressure in the engine, but will generate more heat in doing so, which is also harder to dissipate, so all in all there could be some interesting situations in the race.”
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Hello! Welcome to our coverage of second practice for theMexican Grand Prix.
F1 drivers took a step into the unknown earlier today, getting their first taste of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit.
As a result, there were a few eyebrow-raising moments in first practice as Max Verstappen finished fastest with newly crowned world champion Lewis Hamilton down in 11th.
Nico Rosberg, meanwhile, was on fire. Well, his brakes were as Mercedes had a little trouble adapting to the high altitude and thin air...
Driving to the Max in Mexico
The last time a race was held in Mexico, Boyz II Men were riding high in the music charts, Quentin Tarantino brought us Reservoir Dogs and Max Verstappen was not even a twinkle in Jos' eye.
Yet the 18-year-old, in F1's first appearance in Mexico in 23 years, has already made history on the circuit - becoming the youngest-ever driver to top a timed practice session.
Not a bad start to the weekend by the youngster...
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At around 2,200m above sea level, the challenge of racing at altitude was evident in that session. The thinner the air, the harder it is to cool the engine and the brakes. Expect more flaming wheels like we saw with Nico Rosberg's
We're going to take a brief break, with second practice getting under way at 20:00 GMT. We'll reboot our coverage half-an-hour before. I hope to see you then.
Get involved #bbcf1
How many titles can Hamilton win?
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Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"Teams haven't been able to prepare for this like they have other races and look what has happened. It will be fascinating to see how they come to terms with it all in FP2."
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So a Renault-powered one-two at the top of the timesheet in first practice, with Lewis Hamilton down in 11th. Nico Rosberg improved in his late reappearance, but only enough to finish P6. Early days, but some work to do for Mercedes after issues with overheating brakes.
FP1 - the rest
FP1 top 10
Chequered flag
Max Verstappen finishes fastest in first practice for the Mexican Grand Prix.
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There's no improvement from Nico Rosberg in his first lap on his return to the circuit, but he's got time to have another go. Lewis Hamilton is also back out.
How to warm up the tyres? Or maybe not...
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...and Verstappen goes fastest of all with 1:25.990. Five minutes left. Any late improvements from elsewhere?
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Max Verstappen is up into P2 after a 1:26.495, but he is on a good lap again, fastest of all through the middle sector...
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Scratch what I said earlier, Nico Rosberg IS getting back out for the final few minutes.
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Ten minutes to go and there are 14 cars out on the circuit as Kimi Raikkonen clocks the second fastest time with 1:26.877, half a second down on Daniil Kvyat's leading effort.
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Valtteri Bottas, currently fourth fastest, spins in the Williams at Turn 6, prompting a brief wave of the yellow flags. No drama as he quickly gets himself back on his way.
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Nico Rosberg is not getting back out in this session after his brakes overheated earlier, but Lewis Hamilton is. The three-time world champion currently has the ninth fastest time with 12 minutes remaining.
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Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"Fernando Alonso is on the intermediate tyre on a dry track and the reason for that is because McLaren have discovered a cut on the last set of prime tyres he was using, so they don't want to risk going out on the prime tyre until they know why that cut appeared."
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Into the final 20 minutes of the session and there's once again a lull on the track. Just Carlos Sainz, Pastor Maldonado and Fernando Alonso out there. Alonso, interestingly, is on the intermediate tyre...
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Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"What we are seeing down with Mercedes and Nico Rosberg reminds me of something. Rob Smedley said to me on Thursday about just how unprepared teams feel coming into this race. The tarmac was laid very late so there is very little data about it. The top speed at the end of the pit straight is much higher than the teams were expecting. It will be a moving target and when they put the soft tyre on it will go faster again. A lot for the teams to think about."
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After that fiery drama, we have a Red Bull one-two at the moment with Daniil Kvyat fastest after a 1:26.295 ahead of Daniel Ricciardo. Nico Rosberg is third fastest.
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"Cool these brakes down Lewis," Hamilton is told over the radio. "They are too hot. Keep cooling the brakes."
Sage advice after what just happened to his team-mate!
Wheels of fire
Yellow flags as Nico Rosberg, who has the fastest time of the session, brings his car to a screeching stop as he goes off the circuit, and just stops himself from hitting a barrier. He rights his car but his brakes are on fire! Replays show him limping the Mercedes back to the pits with fire inside his rear tyres!
Yellow flag
A brief flutter of the yellow flags as Felipe Nasr spins at the last corner inside the stadium section. He manages to avoid contact with nearby barriers and rights himself before getting back on his way.
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Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"I've just gone next door to Jenson Button and Nico Hulkenberg is out of the car. It appears the team are working on the steering rack. It appears to be quite a big job but let us hope he can get back out soon."
Get involved #bbcf1
How many titles can Hamilton win?
Bad news for Button
Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"Jenson Button is out of the car having reported a power issue. It might be an early bath for Jenson, who was given a new power unit but it appears to have let him down already."
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Jolyon Palmer, for the briefest of moments, was fastest of all after a 1:29.163 before Nico Rosberg knocked him off top spot with 1:28.399. Replays, though, did show Palmer cutting off a bit of Turn 10 when he ran wide.
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All 20 drivers have put times on the board, with Jolyon Palmer and Nico Hulkenberg the last two to do so.
Hulkenberg, though, is back in his garage at the moment as Force India take a look at a brake problem in his car.
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Plenty of drivers are still in their respective garages with some tinkering being done to their cars. Daniel Ricciardo is out on track, and he becomes the first of the drivers to dip below 1:30 today as he goes fastest with 1:29.502, just over a second faster than Valtteri Bottas.
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Sergio Perez's favourite football team are showing their support for the Mexican driver...
No rush at Merecedes
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How far can Hamilton go?
Get involved #bbcf1
I read earlier today some quotes from Nigel Mansell, who thinks Lewis Hamilton will get "very close" to matching Michael Schumacher's record haul of seven Formula 1 titles.
Do you agree? If not, how many more do you think he can win and why?
Let us know via #bbcf1, text in on 81111 (UK only) and have your say on the BBC Sport Facebook page.
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A lull in circuit activity now with the first-half hour of the session gone, drivers back in the pits to hand back the 'bonus' set of prime tyres.
As it stands it is 1) Bottas 2) Hamilton 3) Perez 4) Nasr 5) Vettel 6) Massa 7) Raikkonen 8) Sainz 9) Rosberg 10) Verstappen
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Jolyon Palmer is in the Lotus for today's first practice session, and for the remaining first practice sessions of the season for that matter, replacing Romain Grosjean. Palmer is of course replacing Grosjean as Pastor Maldonado's team-mate in 2016.
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Valtteri Bottas, having switched to the medium compound, goes fastest with 1:30.678 and the other drivers see that time as an indication that it is time for them to make the change too.
Lewis Hamilton, on his first lap with the new boots on, goes second fastest with 1:31.160. He was fastest of all through the second sector but ran a little wid in the third to lose a bit of time.
A tale of two pictures
I appreciate that pictures can be deceiving, catching people at a moment that might not reflect their actual mood accurately at that point in time, but I don't think these two pictures are far off displaying how Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are feeling at this moment in time...
Rosberg lost USGP because of 'gust of wind'
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
“Nico Rosberg, being the analytical sort of chap he is, asked his Mercedes engineers to look into reasons for the mistake that cost him the lead of the US Grand Prix to Lewis Hamilton - and therefore allowed Hamilton to win the championship last weekend. What did they come up with? ‘It was gust of wind, a big one,’ he said. ‘I’m serious! But everybody has it, and so you can't really use it as an excuse, It's still a mistake, but I understand my mistake now, and that's important, for me to understand it. It was a very unusual scenario which happened only once in all those laps. I understand the mistake and that helps me a lot moving forward. I lost a lot of rear downforce as a result.’
“It’s fair to say the reaction to that remark was sceptical. And it’s also fair to say that Rosberg was less than impressed by Hamilton’s post-race remark that it is the ‘worst thing’ to be his team-mate. Asked for his reaction, Rosberg said: ‘That comment makes it even better because I will get even more pleasure beating him next time, hearing such a comment.’”
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Nico Rosberg may have lost out on the world championship to Lewis Hamilton, but he'll still be looking to finish the season strongly. He is also very much in a battle with Sebastian Vettel to finish second.
After an initial check of the circuit, Rosberg spent a fair bit of time back in the garage but he is back out now and has just gone second fastest with 1:33.174.
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Sebastian Vettel relays the conditions for each corner back to his team in a very robotic manner.
"1,2,3 dry, 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 still a bit damp. 12,13 seems a bit dry with a bit of damp at 13, 14 dry, 15 ok and 16 damp."
Vettel is one of nine drivers to have completed a timed lap in these early stages, with Carlos Sainz now fastest after a 1:33.095.
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The dry patches are increasing in size with 15 minutes of the session gone and Max Verstappen, who wasn't even born when F1 last raced in Mexico, sets the first timed lap of the day with a 1:35.283.
Fernando on ice
A few minor wobbles from some of the cars on the circuit, with drivers reporting it is very slippery.
"It is like ice everywhere," reports Fernando Alonso. "On both the dry patches and the wet patches.Very strange."
A dream come true for Perez
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
"No prizes for guessing the man in demand on Thursday - local hero Sergio Perez has been mobbed. If he’s bothered by it, though, it seems to be only in a good way. Perez describes racing in his home grand prix as ‘a dream come true’, adding: ‘It’s going to be the most special day of my career.’
"As for the pressure he will inevitably be under, Perez said: ‘Obviously there is a lot of pressure but I take it as a very positive one, there will be a lot of energy, people really supporting me and what I have to do is what I do every weekend, it’s focus on myself. Once I put the helmet on, it’s time to focus on what I’m doing, I have to do the normal procedure that I do throughout the races. There are a lot of things that we have to do before the race start, before qualifying and so on. Obviously there is a lot of pressure but a very positive type of pressure and I see that it will give me a very good motivation to do well this Sunday.’”
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There's a decent crowd in the stands already, all no doubt waiting to catch a glimpse of local favourite Sergio Perez and he gives them what they are wish for by heading out for an installation lap.
Team radio
Mercedes: "There's quite a lot of spray from T4-5, caution through there."
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Very tentative first venture out as the drivers get accustomed to a new circuit. The track has been declared wet so it is intermediate boots for the time being.
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Go! Go! Go!
There may be no rainfall but the track is certainly a little damp as first practice gets under way. No-one is hanging about either, with several drivers getting on with things immediately.
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
“I like to walk the track on a Thursday - it gives you a real sense of the place that is very useful as the weekend develops. And this track is very much a park circuit, with elements of Albert Park, Montreal and perhaps even Monza.
“The first straight goes on for ever and is wide initially, then narrowing towards the first complex. The stands there are steeply tiered and reach right down to the track, providing a close-up experience, a little like the first turn in Montreal.
“Once into the complex, I don't think there’s the space to run side by side, especially after the second apex. Then the track runs flat out to a second complex, where the wall on the left on entry to the second right hander is almost on the circuit. Again there should be some good viewing here.
“From there the cars accelerate towards the Esses, which are less demanding than on the old circuit but should see the cars cornering at medium to high speed before heading down towards the baseball stadium. While this final section is very tight, and the F1 cars won’t be much fun at such slow speed, especially at the hairpin inside, the atmosphere there should be fantastic, and with the podium in there as well, the top three drivers are going to feel a lot of love!
“Despite the fact that stands are still being finished and paint applied to track edges, the whole place feels smart, modern and revived; I was here in 2007 with the now-defunct A1GP series and it was atmospheric but rather sad. This, though, has been a very effective update, and I'm looking forward to seeing the cars out there.”
Man under the mask
Fancy a quiz? I fancy a quiz (is guessing someone's identity a quiz?).
Can you name the former F1 driver under the mask in the middle of this picture?
Send your guesses to #bbcf1
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What's changed since 1992 then?
The most significant alteration to the circuit is the legendary Peraltada corner, which has been cut in half and the track now twists its way through a baseball stadium section, and it looks amazing.
A blast from the past
Nigel Mansell won the last race in Mexico back in 1992 on his way to winning the world championship.
Mansell was also responsible for one of the most daring manoeuvres in F1 history, overtaking Gerhard Berger on the outside of Turn 14 - the famous Peraltada corner - exiting at 192mph.
Turn 17 of the now redesigned corner has been named after Mansell as recognition of his skill and bravery that day.
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Phew!
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Erm, get your skates on lads. Practice starts soon...
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OK then, time for a quick gander at today's schedule.
First practice gets under way at 16:00 GMT and you can listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.
Then we have second practice at 20:00 GMT, with commentary again on sports extra.
You can listen and follow live text commentary on this very page.
The people love Perez
Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"Two things immediately strike you about Mexico City. One, the traffic. It’s awful. Two, how much this country seems to love Sergio Perez. At this stage, it’s difficult to work out whether Mexico is in love with F1 or just in love with ‘Checo’.
"Everywhere you go in town there are posters of Perez, mostly advertising his sponsors’ products and Fernando Alonso - a national hero in his home country - said prior to an interview I did with him on Thursday that it feels to him like being in Spain, such is the fans' reaction towards Perez.”
No rain today
A step into the unknown
Hello! Welcome to our coverage of practice for the Mexican Grand Prix.
The battle for the drivers' and constructors' championships may be over,but the show must go on, and where better than at a venue F1 has not been to for 23 years.
And, after spending most our time counting rain drops and watching drivers dancing in practice for the United States Grand Prix last-time out, things are looking good for plenty of Friday action...
Cap-gate controversy and Turn One touch
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
“Lewis Hamilton arrived in Mexico as a three-time world champion, and very chilled and relaxed about it he was, too. You can read about what he’s been up to and what he thinks about it in his BBC Sport column, but it will come as no surprise that much of the questioning he faced on his arrival in Mexico City was about the fall-out from a couple of incidents with team-mate Nico Rosberg at the last race in Austin - their touch at Turn One, where Hamilton took the lead and ‘cap-gate’, as Wolff put it with his tongue in his cheek.
“Hamilton said he ‘didn’t think we really need to’ talk about the Turn One incident, even if team boss Toto Wollf, while playing it down, said he felt they did. Hamilton added: ‘I think Toto feels that he needs to perhaps sit with Nico to see where his head’s at. Obviously we don’t want any tension in the team. Generally we do often come together and just keep it transparent. I don’t really have anything to say about it but of course I’m sure we will sit down and see what Nico’s feeling and whatever emotions he has and try and dilute them and then move on. In terms of the cap thing, I don’t know. It’s pretty funny so I don’t really have much else to say about it.’”
Formula 1 smackdown
"I took the dude down."
Talking about taking part in some wrestling ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix this week, Lewis Hamilton may as well have been describing his victory over Nico Rosberg in the battle for the world championship.
Hamilton wrapped up his third title on Sunday in convincing fashion, delivering a decisive blow to Rosberg's hopes, as well as to the German's pride.
With three races remaining, focus now starts turning to 2016. Will Rosberg finish strongly to suggest he can regroup and challenge next season? Or will Hamilton send out a warning to his would-be challengers with a further display of strength?