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Lewis Hamilton loved his first taste of the Mexican Grand Prix circuit, describing it as "challenging for everyone but fun".

The new world champion joined drivers in remarking on the lack of grip of Mexico City's track but praised the atmosphere created by thousands of fans.

"It's a bit like a go-kart track in the slow areas," he said.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

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“One word dominated the drivers’ reactions to their first experience of the remodelled Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Friday - ‘slippery’. Often with a few amplifiers thrown in. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel added the word ‘very’ five times, while Lewis Hamilton said it was ‘crazy how slippery it is’, adding: “Sliding, oversteering, drifting everywhere, it’s unbelievable.’

“The reason for this? A combination of a new track surface, which is leaking oils as was also a problem at Russia’s inaugural race last year, and the high altitude, which means the cars do not create as much downforce as normal. So cars set up to create as much downforce as possible, as at a slow track, are pushing 360km/h (223mph) down the straights. As Nico Rosberg put it: ‘It is so high up, it is like a ski station in Europe. The air is very thin and even down the straights there is no resistance, so we have the Monaco rear wing on the car but we’re doing Monza speeds.’”

Hello! Welcome to our coverage of final practice and qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix.

Wheels of fire, an 18-year-old topping practice and plenty of slipping and sliding, first and second practice on a circuit new to the F1 drivers was nothing if not eventful. 

The day ended, though, with Nico Rosberg on top, and he will no doubt be hoping to be on fire once again today.

Thrills...

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...spills...

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...and surprises...

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...it was certainly an eventful first day in Mexico. More of the same today?