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Lando Norris will sit out the opening practice session of the weekend in Mexico this weekend, the team has confirmed.

McLaren confirmed earlier this year that IndyCar star Pato O'Ward would make an FP1 appearance at his home event in Mexico.

However, it did not disclose at the time who would sit out the session. Now, McLaren has communicated that it will be Norris who will watch on from the sidelines before he gets back behind the wheel for FP2.

“It’s always great to come home,” O'Ward said.

“The atmosphere and fan support in Mexico City is very special. I’m looking forward to getting on track, contributing to the team, helping with the car setup and gathering data.

“Thank you to Zak [Brown] and Andrea [Stella] for the opportunity, I can't wait.”

It marks the second FP1 outing that Norris has missed this year after he stepped aside for Alex Dunne in Austria.

Norris enters the Mexico City GP weekend hoping to further eat into team-mate Oscar Piastri's title advantage while also holding off the threat posed by Max Verstappen.

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