Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

McLaren’s Lando Norris pipped Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli to the fastest time in final practice on the weekend on which the world title is poised to change hands from the Briton to the Italian.

Norris pipped Antonelli by just 0.001 seconds at the end of the last session before qualifying as both moved ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was fastest on Friday but 0.117secs off on Saturday.

Antonelli will become champion on Sunday as long as he does not lose more than 23 points to team-mate George Russell or 24 to Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. The only way Antonelli can be prevented from winning the title is if Russell wins and he finishes lower than ninth, or Hamilton does and he is out of the points.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was fourth fastest, 0.195secs off the pace, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen 0.351secs behind Norris in fifth and ahead of Hamilton.

Russell and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar brought up the rear of the drivers from the top four teams, with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad completing the top 10.

News before practice was that Esteban Ocon has been dropped from his Haas seat for the rest of the weekend and replaced by reserve driver Roy Hirokawa. The Japanese was 19th in final practice, fourth places and 0.577secs behind team-mate Oliver Bearman.

At the back, neither Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto or Cadillac’s Sergio Perez set a time as they suffered engine problems that required a power-unit change.

Is Lando Norris going to make a bid for pole position for tomorrow's 71-lap grand prix in Mexico? Or is the fight between Ferrari and young title leader Kimi Antonelli?

Mercedes' Antonelli doesn't have to book a spot on the front row for Sunday's race, as he only needs a top-nine finish to secure his maiden championship. But starting on pole for your date with destiny would be nice.

Right, if you want to head out trick-or-treating so you've got some sweets in for qualifying, do it now.

We'll be back up and running from 20:45 GMT.

Q1 is going green at 21:00.

See you shortly!

Harry Benjamin, Marc Priestley and Jennie Gow are looking ahead to this weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix and Kimi Antonelli on the brink of making history as the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history.

You can listen to the Chequered Flag podcast during the break by clicking the play button above, or you can head over to BBC Sounds here

11. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

12. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

13. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

14. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

15. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

16. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

17. Alex Albon (Williams)

18. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

19. Ryo Hirakawa (Haas)

20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

21. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) no time

22. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) no time

1. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1:17.600

2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.001

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.117

4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.195

5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.351

6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.469

7. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.507

8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +0.509

9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +0.513

10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +0.537

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on Radio 5 Live in Mexico City

It is super tight and I think that is the story of this weekend. We are seeing three or four teams when they get things right be potentially within a tenth or two of each other. Can't wait for qualifying.

Are McLaren also going to challenge for pole position on Saturday? Lando Norris took a dominant victory here last year on his way to his maiden world championship, and now the Briton goes quickest with a time just 0.001 second better than title leader Kimi Antonelli.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on Radio 5 Live in Mexico City

That is a very unhappy Max Verstappen. When he says the brakes aren't working of course they do work, just not the way he would like.

Brakes are under a lot of stress here. You haven't got the normal dense air to keep those brakes cool.

Charles Leclerc is green in the opening in sector but it's the final sector where the Ferrari driver shines. He's purple at the end of the lap and goes to within 0.151 seconds of Kimi Antonelli's quickest time.

For Max Verstappen, the brakes are causing issues in the Red Bull. The Dutchman, who is aiming for a seventh consecutive podium finish this weekend, is fifth on the timesheets.

Something is not right over at Aston Martin, so Canadian Lance Stroll is back in the garage for some work on his car.

Ferrari are down in sixth and seventh as the soft running continues, Charles Leclerc quicker than team-mate Lewis Hamilton, but the pair both half a second off Kimi Antonelli's best time.

1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1:17.601

2. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.166

3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.350

4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.451

5. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.506

Take two for championship leader Kimi Antonelli and this time the Italian puts down a smooth lap and leapfrogs current title holder Lando Norris by 0.272 seconds.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen goes third quickest, more than three tenths off Antonelli, with Oscar Piastri now down to fourth.

The phone at Mercedes is ringing. It's Antonelli, and he's not happy.

"Who was the Red Bull?!" asks the 20-year-old. "Erm... that was Max," comes the reply.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on Radio 5 Live in Mexico City

Turn 12 is catching a lot of people out. If you look at the list of lap times deleted, which we get here in the commentary box, a lot of them are happening there.

Everyone is coming into that section, the tyres are very warm at that point, and they are going from very high speed to very low speed and they are finding it difficult to control the car there.

Kimi Antonelli backed out of his first flying lap, so for now, Lando Norris has jumped above the other Mercedes of George Russell by 0.234 seconds.

The world champion's team-mate Oscar Piastri is next to cross the line and slots in behind Norris after his soft-tyre attempt.

More soft tyres are starting to appear on the timing tower, including championship leader Kimi Antonelli and the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

George Russell finishes his lap and goes quickest with a 1:18.107, but the Briton tells his Mercedes pit wall: "I think we should have tried the first lap - might be worth trying with Kimi."

Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto and home driver Sergio Perez are the only two drivers without a timed lap on the board in this final practice session. Mexican Perez has just signed a contract extension with Cadillac, but he's not getting to enjoy the congratulations of the crowd so far on Saturday.

Lance Stroll has also returned to the Aston Martin garage, and now the mechanics are starting to work on the Canadian's car.

Carlos Sainz takes a bit of trip across the grass in the Williams, as Mercedes' George Russell is preparing to show us a lap on the soft red tyres.

Isack Hadjar: Oh my God this is the worst car I have driven this weekend. Terrible.

1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:18.152

2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.010

3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.261

4. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +0.354

5. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.363

Another flying lap on the medium compound for Ferrari, another one of their drivers takes the best seat at the timesheets table. Charles Leclerc has the upper-hand now, with a best time of 1:18.152, and a 0.010-second advantage over team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Isack Hadjar, meanwhile, has dragged his car up to fourth with his latest run on the yellow rubber, 0.354 secs off Leclerc's marker.