Alex Albon crashed into British teenager Oliver Bearman in first observe on the Mexico Grand Prix as George Russell set the early tempo.
The Williams driver misplaced management of his automotive as Bearman slowed on the skin to permit him to move by into flip 10, understeering into the entrance wheel of the Ferrari at excessive velocity earlier than spinning into the boundaries.
Albon rapidly blamed Bearman for the bizarre observe incident, labelling the 19-year-old an “fool” over the group radio.
Bearman, who has competed in two races this season for Ferrari and Haas, was taken out of the session as Albon was pushed away by the medical automotive.
Bearman was one in every of 5 rookies collaborating within the opening observe session on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with title hopeful Lando Norris handing his McLaren over to Mexican driver Pato O’Ward.
Norris, who trails Max Verstappen by 57 factors within the championship standings, watched on from the McLaren storage as O’Ward posted the thirteenth quickest time whereas team-mate Oscar Piastri was solely sixth.
Verstappen stated over the radio because the session drew to an in depth that “there’s something incorrect with the engine” because the Dutchman posted the fourth quickest time.
Purple Bull confirmed that they had been investigating a “energy unit subject”. Verstappen would incur a penalty if he has to take a brand new one.
Group principal Christian Horner stated after the session that it was a “menial” subject which they hoped had been fastened.
He was over eight tenths adrift of Mercedes pace-setter Russell, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz second forward of RB’s Yuki Tsunoda.
Residence favorite Sergio Perez, who admitted on Thursday that he has had a “horrible season”, may handle solely tenth within the second Purple Bull.
Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli – who will change Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes subsequent 12 months – crashed out solely 10 minutes into his Formulation One debut in observe on the Italian Grand Prix in August.
Issues didn’t begin off a lot better right here, as Antonelli stepped into the seven-time world champion’s automotive once more, when he drove over a chunk of particles 5 minutes in and the session was pink flagged.
Antonelli did handle to finish 18 laps on this event and completed twelfth within the standings.
