Max Verstappen expressed doubts about his chances of winning the Mexican Grand Prix unless Red Bull can improve their long run performance before the race on Sunday. Despite setting the fastest time in FP2 on Friday, Verstappen found McLaren’s consistent pace concerning.
Having handed his RB21 car to 18-year-old talent Arvid Lindblad for FP1, Verstappen returned for FP2 and topped the timesheets, edging out Charles Leclerc and Kimi Antonelli. Lando Norris claimed the fourth spot, while his teammate Oscar Piastri struggled in 12th position.
Verstappen voiced his concerns about the team’s struggles on long runs, emphasizing the need to address the lack of grip and performance degradation. He emphasized the importance of race pace over one-lap speed for a successful outcome in the Grand Prix.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko shared Verstappen’s sentiments, acknowledging McLaren’s superior performance on long runs. Marko highlighted the team’s need to improve balance and grip to match their competitors’ speed over a race distance.
Despite the challenges, Verstappen remains optimistic about securing pole position but acknowledges the tough task of maintaining the lead throughout the race. The team is focused on addressing the performance issues to ensure a competitive showing on race day.