The Red Bull duo of Max Verstappen and Australian Daniel Ricciardo have set the pace in first practice for the Formula One Mexican Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel down the pecking order.

Verstappen posted a best one minute 16.656 seconds around the 4.304km Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez track on Friday, where he won last season.

Teammate Ricciardo was 0.483 seconds behind.

Hamilton, who can secure a fifth world title by finishing seventh or better in Sunday’s race, was fifth in his Mercedes around 1.5 seconds behind, one place ahead of colleague Valtteri Bottas.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who must win to have any hope of taking the championship into the final two races of the campaign, was seventh – more than 2 seconds behind Verstappen.

Renault produced a surprising performance to see Carlos Sainz and Nico Huelkenberg third and fourth but a dirty track made conditions difficult as teams worked out how best to run in the high-altitude of Mexico City.

Hamilton leads Vettel by 70 points as he closes in on his fourth title in five seasons.

Second practice is later Friday with final practice ahead of qualifying Saturday.