The Japan Times - Norris tops Mexico final practice ahead of Hamilton

In a tensely-contested session, the 25-year-old Briton, who is 14 points behind McLaren team-mate Piastri in the drivers' championship, clocked a fastest lap in one minute and 16.633 seconds to outpace seven-time champion Hamilton by 0.345.

Mercedes' George Russell was third ahead of Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari with Piastri and Verstappen behind them, a confidence-boosting outcome for Norris as he seeks a first Mexican win to overhaul a faltering Piastri.

Kimi Antonelli was seventh in the second Mercedes ahead of Racing Bulls’ star rookie Isack Hadjar, Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was unable to make a late soft tyres run due to a mechanical issue on his Aston Martin and finished 20th, but it was a competitive hour of action.

The session began with Lance Stroll leading Aston Martin team-mate Alonso out in near-perfect conditions at the dusty and slippery Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Much of the overnight paddock gossip had focussed on McLaren’s race pace in second practice when, despite Verstappen’s one-lap speed, there was an air of confidence that suggested the Friday run times had disguised their potential.

It had been a disappointing day for Piastri, down in 12th, which prompted 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve to suggest he had lost confidence.

"We didn’t hear a lot of confidence and his driving has been messy since Baku," he told Sky Sports F1.

"That can make a tenth or two difference… A little mistake here and there and it gets to your head.

"And seeing Max at the front, that's going to eat him all evening. If you’re running and looking backwards, things go wrong and that’s what’s happening.

"It might not be down to the car. The driver just needs to be a little bit tense behind the wheel and that's it - it’s gone. He doesn’t feel the car anymore, doesn’t drive it smoothly and starts making mistakes."

Remaining calm, and removed from the incessant speculation about the title race, Piastri waited 18 minutes to go out soon after Sainz had gone top on softs for Williams ahead of Verstappen with Norris third, the trio separated by only 0.037 seconds.

Most drivers were on mediums and working their way into the session with Piastri clearly sticking to a programme that did not require him to compete at that stage, taking a ‘big picture’ approach to the job.

Norris though emerged top with a blistering effort, Piastri responding by going third until pushed back by Russell.

K.Okada--JT