Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen was the quickest driver as they got their first experience of the new Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico.
The Dutch driver posted his best lap in the closing minutes of the session, but cut two corners in the process, though it seemed to go unnoticed by the timing screens.
He demoted Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat to second, whilst Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was third fastest ahead of team-mate Sebastian Vettel.
Nico Rosberg missed the final few minutes when his brakes caught fire. He eventually finished sixth quickest, 1.2 seconds adrift of Verstappen’s best.
Brakes seemed to take a pounding round the revamped circuit with several drivers complaining of overheating problems, including champion Lewis Hamilton.
McLaren’s Fernando Alonso suffered a cut to his tyre, whilst home favourite Sergio Perez span when he locked up.
2015 Mexican Grand Prix Practice Times (FP1):
| # | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Lap |
| 01 | Max Verstappen | Toro Rosso | 1:25.990 | 38 | |
| 02 | Daniil Kvyat | Red Bull | 1:26.295 | 0.305 | 27 |
| 03 | Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari | 1:26.295 | 0.305 | 36 |
| 04 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 1:26.886 | 0.896 | 31 |
| 05 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull | 1:27.185 | 1.195 | 28 |
| 06 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:27.196 | 1.206 | 19 |
| 07 | Valtteri Bottas | Williams | 1:27.303 | 1.313 | 26 |
| 08 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Toro Rosso | 1:27.410 | 1.420 | 37 |
| 09 | Sergio Perez | Force India | 1:27.581 | 1.591 | 19 |
| 10 | Felipe Massa | Williams | 1:27.695 | 1.705 | 24 |
| 11 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:27.723 | 1.733 | 27 |
| 12 | Marcus Ericsson | Sauber | 1:28.498 | 2.508 | 27 |
| 13 | Pastor Maldonado | Lotus | 1:28.559 | 2.569 | 30 |
| 14 | Felipe Nasr | Sauber | 1:28.579 | 2.589 | 25 |
| 15 | Jolyon Palmer | Lotus | 1:28.711 | 2.721 | 24 |
| 16 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India | 1:29.099 | 3.109 | 17 |
| 17 | Fernando Alonso | McLaren | 1:30.072 | 4.082 | 17 |
| 18 | Alexander Rossi | Manor | 1:30.619 | 4.629 | 23 |
| 19 | Jenson Button | McLaren | 1:32.091 | 6.101 | 9 |
| 20 | Will Stevens | Manor | 1:32.866 | 6.876 | 11 |
