Kimi Antonelli reveals Mercedes experiments as season-first delivered

Kimi Antonelli has explained how Mercedes' set-up changes throughout Friday Mexican GP practice led to a mixed result for the team.

Antonelli was second and third in the two sessions, the first time he has placed inside the top three for both Friday practice sessions, as the Italian rookie outperformed team-mate George Russell by nearly three-tenths in FP2.

On his first visit to Mexico, Antonelli was excited by the "best Friday in a long time" as he pinpointed track evolution as a potential risk for Mercedes to slide back.

"It was a decent Friday, probably one of the best Fridays I've had in a long time," Antonelli reflected. 

"I think FP1 was great, FP2 was a little worse, as we tried some setup changes, and in some ways improved the car, but in other ways made it a bit worse. 

"But there is a lot of data that we could get from these two sessions. 

"I had a little issue with the engine at the start of the session, and halfway through my second lap, so it just made the run plan a little bit worse. 

"I was a bit more rushed with everything, but still, we were able to complete all the laps that we needed, and that was the most important, with quick laps too.

"[Being at the front on Saturday] would be great, the pace looks to be good.

"But of course, Saturday is going to be another day. The track is going to evolve, and it's going to be important to evolve as well with the driving and with the car."