How Mexican GP practice unfolded

AFPCopyright: AFP

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel set the pace as Mercedes struggled in second practice at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Vettel was 0.614 seconds quicker than the fastest Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, with Hamilton a further 0.349secs adrift.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was second fastest, 0.115secs behind Vettel, with the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc third.

Mercedes' pace suggested Hamilton will find it difficult to tie up the championship on Sunday, for which he needs to score 14 points more than Bottas.

To secure his sixth title, Hamilton at the very least needs to finish on the podium and hope Bottas' results go his way.

Something similar on Sunday would not be enough for Lewis Hamilton to win the title at this race. He needs to pick up 14 more points than team-mate Valtteri Bottas to win his sixth world title.

It has been a good session for Ferrari, Charles Leclerc very nearly wrecks that right at the end. He throws in a 360 at Turn Eight and only just keeps himself out of the wall.

Kayleigh: Luffield is the only correct answer.

Phil Slocombe: I'd love to watch the Singapore GP as I last saw it live in the mid 60s when it was run on the old Thomson Rd circuit, when I was based with the RAF at Changi.

A good day for Toro Rosso at the moment. Sixth and seventh, best of the rest. Decent.

Verstappen: "How are we looking to other cars?"

Red Bull: "Similar issues with graining."

I think it's going to rain. The clouds are gathering over our heads. It does look like it could be wet qualifying tomorrow.

And then, with 17 minutes to go, Magnussen nearly smashes into a Ferrari when rejoining the track after going on to the grass. But, then again, pretty much everyone else has gone on to the grass so why not?

Kevin Magnussen locks up his medium tyres. He is down in 17th in what is his 100th grand prix weekend.

What a great camera angle...

Gareth's bagged himself a top seat. Feel free to send us pictures all weekend Gareth, if you want to.

.Copyright: .

1. Vettel (Ferrari, 1:16.607)
2. Verstappen (Red Bull, +0.115)
3. Leclerc (Ferrari, +0.465)
4. Bottas (Mercedes, +0.614)
5. Hamilton (Mercedes, +0.963)
6. Kvyat (Toro Rosso, +1.140)
7. Gasly (Toro Rosso, +1.396)
8. Sainz (McLaren, +1.472)
9. Hulkenberg (Renault, +1.654)
10. Norris (McLaren, +1.742)

A good session so far for Ferrari, Toro Rosso and McLaren. A mixed bag for Red Bull, with Max Verstappen second and Alexander Albon guaranteed to be last after meeting the wall.

Jeremiah Kariuki: Ferrari of Vettel showing some great pace on the one lap. Makes other cars, other than Max, look like they are crawling or tiptoeing on the track.

"Just pull the mic away from your mouth a little please."

That's Hamilton to his replacement race engineer Marcus Dudley (Peter Bonnington is away this weekend).

Over in the Premier League, it's also at half-time.

Southampton 0-5 Leicester. Saints have had a man sent off as well.

Read all about Leicester heading for a huge win over here.