Max Verstappen edged out Williams’ Alex Albon to set the pace in first practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Three-time world champion Verstappen was quick from the opening minutes of the session, the Dutchman going fastest on the Pirelli prototype tyre.

He then traded fastest laps with Perez and came out on top by 0.297s when the duo both tried out the soft tyres for the first time in the session.

Albon was the surprise package of the session, the Thai driver quick on the mediums, prototype and soft tyres to go second quickest, just 0.095s off the pace.

The Williams driver’s best lap was set towards the end of the session, when the track would have been less green and more rubbered in to deliver better grip.