Mexico City Grand Prix: Verstappen Adapts to Tough Qualifying Result
Max Verstappen will start the Mexico City Grand Prix from fifth on the grid, acknowledging a lack of pace for a higher finish, and emphasizing the need to avoid trouble during the race. Despite dominant performances in recent races, with three wins in the last four outings, Red Bull struggled to translate strong one-lap pace into effective high-fuel performance.
Verstappen remarked on the team’s challenges: “We tried a lot of stuff… it’s just been very difficult… I just need to stay out of trouble and do my own race.” His comments highlight the car’s difficulty in achieving traction and grip, issues not present in prior years where Red Bull held a considerable advantage.
Both Verstappen and team principal Laurent Mekies expressed concern over the setup, with Mekies stating, “We didn’t quite manage to put the car in a sweet spot this weekend… I think the real answer is after the race.” Scalability of improvements in race pace is uncertain, but Mekies noted that significant focus will shift overnight to optimize performance ahead of the long race.
In contrast, Lando Norris and Ferrari’s drivers showed promising pace, adding competitive pressure. Mekies concluded, “It’s still a very long race. A lot of things can still happen… so I’m sure it won’t be a boring race.”
As the race approaches, Verstappen remains cautious but determined, indicating that while overtaking may be limited, he will maximize his opportunities throughout the race.
