BBC Radio 5 live

There's still time for you to download the BBC Radio 5 live podcast. The team are joined by former McLaren team coordinator Jo Ramirez to preview this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix. 

Championship leader Nico Rosberg discusses his chances of winning a first world title and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo responds to double world champion Fernando Alonso calling him the best driver on the grid.

Listen to it here.

Esteban Gutierrez is competing in his home race this weekend and he's got a specially designed lid on celebrating Mexico’s first F1 superstars - the Rodriguez brothers. 

Fernando Alonso promptly beats Esteban Ocon's time by almost 2.5 seconds.

Here's a picture he tweeted, external of his head superimposed onto a man dancing in a sombrero. 

Natch.

Image source, Fernando Alonso/Instragram

There's a car on the circuit and it is Esteban Ocon's Manor. He makes the most of a solitary run around the track to close the first time of the session - a 1:28.842.

He's now got Fernando Alonso for company.

Image source, Getty Images

You make a strong case, sir.

It's Halloween on Monday but there were some ghostly goings on in the United States Grand Prix as Max Verstappen appeared to hear someone on the radio who asked him to box. He obliged, but no-one had actually said anything of the sort, resulting in some confused Red Bull mechanics scrambling quickly to make the stop.  

Still, good to see Verstappen can laugh at the whole situation:

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Ever wondered whether racing drivers care what people think about them? They do. Certainly Max Verstappen does. He has developed a reputation has something of a singular enfant terrible, who does not mind ruffling a few feathers, but he admitted that criticism of his radio messages - which some say sound arrogant - had got to him. The latest example was his “I’m not here to finish fourth” remark in Austin. Verstappen said: “The thing is that all the time that I press my radio button it's broadcast, so sometimes it sounds a bit arrogant. Especially that 'I'm not here to finish fourth.’ But that's what comes up in my mind. I'm not there to finish fourth at the end of the day, I'm there to win, as a racer. But on the radio it sounds arrogant and like I'm not listening to the team, but that's not my message to the team.” Then he added, joking: “I think I'm gonna take my radio button off, so no radio for me anymore. I think it's better to just not say anything so there are no discussions. No long sentences for me anymore.” 

Bonfire night may be a few days away but Max Verstappen has given us some early fireworks in first practice. Look at those sparks!

All quiet on the circuit at the moment, prompting a few fans to get up from their seats and grab a drink of something warm. 

Everyone's been out for at least one installation lap on the circuit. No early dramas, although Pascal Wehlrein, who has the halo on his Manor, did run wide briefly before rejoining the circuit.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

For some races now, the mask of what’s actually behind Jenson Button’s decision not to race next year has been slipping. BBC Sport reported after the JapaneseGrand Prix that what was presented as a cosy plan to give him a year off while still working for McLaren with the option to come back in 2018 was in fact retirement by another name, and finally in Mexico on Thursday Button himself, whose messaging has been slipping for some time, came as close to admitting it as he has yet done. 

"My aim is not to be racing next year,” he said. “My aim is not to be racing again. But in six months I might want to go racing again. The idea of speaking to Ron (Dennis) in Spa was to retire, and he changed my mind to stay.” 

In only the loosest of senses, however. 

Image source, Getty Images

There's an an additional challenge for F1 drivers this weekend.

With the highest point of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez measured at 2,229 metres, it is the highest altitude event on the F1 calendar.

The halo is getting another run out on a couple of cars in the early stages of first practice. Felipe Massa's got one on his Williams, while Pascal Wehrlein, Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen have also gone out with halos on their cars.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

For the drivers without a contract for next season, these are nervous times. And in the case of the two Renault drivers, especially so, as both have their sights on the one seat remaining at the team alongside new signing Nico Hulkenberg in 2017. 

Neither Kevin Magnussen nor Jolyon Palmer might get it - Esteban Ocon is also a strong contender. But Palmer, coming to the end of an increasingly impressive debut season, said: “We had quite an intense race in Austin. There is only one seat left and there was two and, from that point of view, it is probably a little tenser between us. But nothing has changed. I still want to be with Renault and it is about doing the best job I can and every race there is no decision is a chance for me to do well and show them why I should be in.” 

Palmer admitted, however, that he would be “foolish” not to look at other options. As for Renault’s chances in Mexico, the Englishman said: “We should be all right. Long straight, smooth asphalt, which is good for us. Quite a technical track. I have a good feeling.”

On comes the green light at the end of the pit lane and straight out onto the circuit are the Renaults of Jolyon Palmer and Kevin Magnussen.

Wow. Just wow. 

Anyone got any suggestions for wrestler names for Jack Nicholls?

Jack and Mark Gallagher are in the commentary box and on air right now with first practice commentary. Listen on 5 live sports extra and online.