Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Every time that Mercedes tries to negotiate a corner, it's as if they just show it the corner and the rear will either over rotate and have an oversteer, or, they will go straight into understeer and have an oversteer moment on the exit.

It's like the drivers don't really know what's going to happen with the car, it looks so nervous and on edge.

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez are struggling in the Red Bull. Moments after Verstappen flagged a lack of grip, Perez is on the blower to say there is "no potential on the front to attack the braking".

"Ah this doesn't **** work. There's no grip, front and rear."

With the McLarens showing decent form in this third practice session, Max Verstappen will be hoping the ghosts have been banished from his less-than-perfect Red Bull. The Dutchman is fourth on the timesheets but is now on the radio to say the lack of grip is worrying.

Sergio Perez, watched on by Papa Perez this weekend, needs a strong race on home soil to turn around what has been a "terrible" season, in his words. The Mexican reaches his adoring fans in the stadium section but a lock-up means he has to back off and abort his attempt, keeping him down in 13th place.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

Lando Norris has the new floor and a little upgrade to the front wing that was put in place last weekend in Austin, Oscar Piastri does not.

That's encouraging for Piastri anyway.

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 1:16.492

2. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.059

3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.340

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.511

5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.568

Lewis Hamilton is fourth on the timesheets after his run on the soft tyres. His engineer Pete Bonnington informs the seven-time world champion he is over half a second away from the McLaren of Oscar Piastri. Hamilton is flabbergasted.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

[On Ferraris team principal] Fred Vasseur has played an absolute blinder on a whole bunch of different levels but he's just calmed everything down, he's taken the drama out of Ferrari.

They don't have reliability problems anymore, the strategy is much more solid, they do make the odd mistake but everybody does.

That didn't last long. Lando Norris is up on his title rival Max Verstappen and jumps above the Red Bull man to go top. But here comes the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri, who finds 0.059 seconds on his soft flyer to lead the field with a 1:16.492.

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I am excited about Liam Lawson, I think he's driven pretty much everything and anything and been quick in everything he's ever done. I am tipping him for really good things.

It's been a quiet session so far for Max Verstappen following yesterday's power-unit issues. The Dutchman knows his benchmark is the two Ferraris in third practice and as he completes his flyer on the soft compound, he goes top of the leaderboard with a 1:17.003.

Franco Colapinto, the driver who has caused quite a stir since he replaced Logan Sargeant mid-way through the season, has put his Williams fifth on the timesheets after his soft-tyre attempt. The rookie has some information for his pit wall, however, saying: "I hit the floor quite hard on the exit of Turn Three".

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Q1 is going to be a nervous time. Ferrari look pretty quick, everybody else I looks like they might have a nervous time.

Both Ferraris are putting the softs through their paces as we creep closer to qualifying in Mexico. Charles Leclerc is now on a 1:17.430 but Carlos Sainz is continuing to set the pace in third practice, beating his team-mate's marker by 0.096 seconds.

A member of the Ferrari crew has just hit the deck ushering Charles Leclerc out of the garage. He jumps up with a smile on his face, but I think that must have hurt a little.

RB's Yuki Tsunoda, meanwhile, has bolted on a set of mediums and climbed up to third on the timesheets with a 1:17.834.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

That Constructors' [Championship] battle is really heating up, just eight points Ferrari are behind Red Bull and then McLaren are still with that advantage of 40 points up ahead, but this is a three-way fight.

"Typical Carlos," says Oscar Piastri on the McLaren radio. What did the Ferrari driver do? I'm not sure. But the Australian was not amused.

Over at Haas, Nico Hulkenberg has just received this update: "Funk 4 in Turn 13," says his engineer. Any guesses what that could be?

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I think everyone is going to be nervous about getting a lap in, with everybody slowing down in Sector Three, it's going to be really really tricky for people to get a clean lap in.

It is already tricky enough to do a lap round this circuit, it's very dusty and it's low grip.

Do you think we'll see Franco Colapinto on the grid season? Or should the Argentine wait it out for a potential seat in 2026?

Image source, Getty Images