- Unfulfilled talent? Two-time champion Alonso clocks up 400th F1 race
- Guardiola praises 'incredible' mentality of Man City stars
- Chelsea boss Maresca wants more 'leadership' from captain James
- US issues historic apology for Native American boarding school atrocities
- Moody's cuts France outlook, opening door to credit downgrade
- Drone sparks fire on Kyiv residential building, one dead
- Gaza ministry says two children die in hospital in Israeli raid
- Wood brace fires Forest as Leicester boss Cooper loses reunion
- Dodgers draw on Bryant's 'Mamba mentality' for World Series
- 'Fascist' row overshadows glitzy night on US campaign trail
- Modern art museum breathes new life into downtown Warsaw
- Russell tops crash-hit Mexico GP practice
- Fils, Shelton set for friendly fire in Basel semi-finals
- Internet blackout hits Mozambique capital after election protests
- Yankees, Dodgers poised for World Series blockbuster
- 'Catfish' predator who drove US girl to suicide jailed for life in N.Ireland
- NASA astronaut hospitalized after return from ISS
- Biden apologizes for Native American boarding school atrocities
- Mexico rules out designating drug violence as 'terrorism'
- Emery wants no let-up from Aston Villa
- Boeing exploring sale of space business: report
- G20 affirms commitment to transition from fossil fuels
- Shami misses India's tour of Australia as Easwaran named as potential Rohit cover
- BHP, Vale agree to pay $30bn damages for Brazil dam disaster
- 75 sickened as McDonald's severe E. Coli outbreak expands
- Turkmenistan's 'Gateway to Hell' lit gas pit faces closure
- Kickboxing takes Senegal by storm despite tight funds
- Waymo ramps up robotaxi push with $5.6 bn in funding
- Elon Musk all-in for Trump as Moscow denies secret Putin talks
- Covid lessons learned? UN summit mulls plan for healthy planet, and humans
- Borthwick unveils new contracts for leading England players
- Sexual assault scandal rocks Spain's 'most feminist' govt
- France must make 'credible' progress on deficit: finance minister
- Stock markets diverge going into weekend
- BHP, Vale agree to pay $30bn compensation for Brazil dam disaster
- Verstappen says 'definitely' his intention to remain at Red Bull
- Mbappe can launch Madrid career in first Clasico
- A monumental dump and Obama the rapper: an offbeat US campaign week
- Biden to apologize for abusive Native American boarding schools
- Pressure is part of manager's life, says troubled West Ham boss Lopetegui
- Gaza ministry says Israel forces detaining hundreds at hospital
- Hirscher confirms return from retirement at World Cup opener
- IMF raises concerns about effects of Sudan conflict on neighbors
- Seoul slams Russian treaty with N. Korea, Zelensky urges 'tangible pressure'
- De Zerbi hails Greenwood as Marseille await Paris Saint-Germain
- Under-fire Ten Hag blames injuries for derailing Man Utd
- Wounded Arsenal must show 'ruthless mentality' against Liverpool: Arteta
- Howe challenges Newcastle stars to step up
- UK's Labour govt prepares to unveil its first budget
- New Zealand eye history after Santner's 7-53 in India Test
Russell tops crash-hit Mexico GP practice
George Russell topped the times for Mercedes in Friday's twice interrupted and crash-hit opening practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix, the Briton finishing three-tenths of a lap faster than Ferrari's Carlos Sainz.
The session was stopped twice by red flags, once for debris that had fallen on to the main straight and once for a crash involving Williams' Alex Albon and Ferrari's Oliver Bearman, a reserve standing in for Charles Leclerc for the session.
Both drivers were unhurt.
Yuki Tsunoda was third for RB ahead of defending three-time world champion and series leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull, Nico Hulkenberg of Haas and McLaren's Oscar Piastri.
Esteban Ocon was seventh for Alpine ahead of Sauber's Valtteri Bottas, RB's Liam Lawson and local hero Sergio Perez who was 10th in the second Red Bull.
After a busy morning, during which McLaren submitted a request for right of review of the penalty given to Lando Norris in Austin last Sunday, the opening session began in bright sunshine with an air temperature of 23 degrees Celsius.
Five rookies were involved including Pato O'Ward at McLaren, in Norris's car, Kimi Antonelli in Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes, Felile Drugovich in Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin, Bearman in Leclerc's Ferrari and Robert Shwartzman in Zhou Guanyu’s Sauber.
A roar greeted Perez, who had admitted he was enduring a "terrible season" on Thursday, for his opening lap and almost immediately the session was red-flagged after debris was left across the main straight.
Antonelli ran over it and Verstappen reported also hitting debris.
It was unclear where the debris came from as a marshal suggested it may have fallen from an overhead bridge, but this was unconfirmed.
After a 10-minute delay, the action resumed with Russell going top before a big crash involving Albon and Bearman at Turn 10. Albon lost his car on a kerb at Turn Nine and slid into Bearman before hitting the barriers.
After a further 10-miniute break, the action resumed with Sainz setting the pace ahead of Russell, who returned to the top in 1:17.998 with 20 minutes remaining in an almost breathless session at the high-altitude circuit.
Russell's lap time was almost six-tenths clear of Sainz and eight-tenths better than Verstappen.
The Dutchman goes into the weekend with a 57-point lead over Norris in the championship race after extending his advantage in Texas last weekend.
The McLaren driver was penalised and lost third place to his title rival for running off the track as he overtook Verstappen.
str/dj
Th.Berger--AMWN