Russell: Mexico Qualifying 'Can Go Any Way' After Tight Friday

George Russell believes qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix is wide open after a tightly bunched opening day of practice at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The Mercedes driver finished third in second practice with a time of 1 minute 17.933 seconds, just 0.003 seconds behind McLaren's Lando Norris and around a tenth adrift of pace-setter Charles Leclerc.

Russell had given up his seat to reserve driver Fred Vesti for first practice, leaving him short of track time, but he quickly caught up in the second hour. "It's very tight out there between the top four teams," he said. "Ferrari are looking strongest at the moment... but come Q3, I think it can go any way. I need to pull the lap out when it matters."

Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord echoed that view, saying the team had the potential to fight for pole despite a day he described as solid rather than spectacular. With altitude, low grip and turbo lag all in play in Mexico City, Saturday's qualifying looks set to be decided by the smallest of margins.