Breaking News: Verstappen handed major BLOW as rivals collide at Mexican…read more
Verstappen handed major BLOW as rivals collide at Mexican…read more
Max Verstappen’s Mexican Grand Prix weekend started off rocky after his Red Bull team encountered power issues in the first practice session (FP1), limiting him to the fourth-fastest time. Verstappen reported engine trouble, telling his team, “There’s something wrong with the engine mate. I don’t know… it’s not behaving nice!” His car returned to the garage for further inspection, leaving concerns for Red Bull as they assess the issue. The team is under pressure, particularly if these engine complications persist, as rivals like McLaren are well-positioned to capitalize on any weaknesses.
The session brought promising early results for Mercedes and Ferrari, with George Russell and Carlos Sainz clocking the two fastest times, respectively. Russell secured the top spot with a time of 1:17.998 seconds, and Sainz trailed closely, just 0.317 seconds behind. VCARB’s Yuki Tsunoda achieved a surprising third-place finish, with a time half a second faster than Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. Tsunoda’s performance adds intrigue, as he aims to make a case for promotion to Red Bull’s primary team, potentially replacing Perez.
Shortly after FP1 began, a red flag interrupted the session when Kimi Antonelli in Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes struck a piece of debris left on the track. Not long after, a second red flag was waved following a collision between Williams’ Alex Albon and Ferrari’s Oliver Bearman. Albon approached Bearman’s slowed Ferrari at high speed and lost control, swiping the Ferrari and forcing both cars out of the session with substantial damage. This incident affected both Ferrari and Williams, with Ferrari now just eight points shy of Red Bull in the constructors’ standings. The performance of both teams in Mexico is critical as they battle for the 2024 championship.
FP1 also showcased several rookie drivers, including Antonelli substituting for Hamilton, Bearman for Charles Leclerc, and Pato O’Ward filling in for Lando Norris. Additionally, Felipe Drugovich replaced Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin, and Robert Shwartzman stood in for Zhou Guanyu at Sauber. These young drivers gained valuable experience and demonstrated their potential against seasoned competitors.
The session’s full results highlighted the intense competition. Russell led with 1:17.998 seconds, followed by Sainz and Tsunoda. Verstappen, despite engine issues, managed to secure the fourth spot, and Nico Hulkenberg of Haas completed the top five. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri claimed sixth, and Esteban Ocon from Alpine secured seventh. Valtteri Bottas placed eighth for Kick Sauber, while Liam Lawson and Perez rounded out the top ten.
With so much at stake in Mexico, Red Bull will need to resolve Verstappen’s engine issues swiftly to prevent McLaren and Ferrari from gaining a strategic edge. Meanwhile, Tsunoda’s performance places added pressure on Perez, as Red Bull evaluates the line-up for the following season. The second practice session could be crucial in determining the adjustments each team needs to make ahead of the race as they look to either defend or capitalize on the current standings.
F1 FP1 Results: Mexican Grand Prix 2024
1. George Russell [Mercedes] – 1:17.998 secs
2. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] – +0.317sec
3. Yuki Tsunoda [VCARB] – +0.701sec
4. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – +0.841sec
5. Nico Hulkenberg [Haas] – +0.906sec
6. Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – +0.960sec
7. Esteban Ocon [Alpine] – +0.998sec
8. Valtteri Bottas [Kick Sauber] – +1.050sec
9. Liam Lawson [VCARB] – +1.095sec
10. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] – +1.096sec
11. Franco Colapinto [Williams] – +1.111sec
12. Kimi Antonelli [Mercedes] – +1.202sec
13. Pato O’Ward [McLaren] – +1.297sec
14. Kevin Magnussen [Haas] – +1.337sec
15. Pierre Gasly [Alpine] – +1.342sec
16. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] – +1.602sec
17. Alex Albon [Williams] – +1.814sec
18. Felipe Drugovich [Aston Martin] – +1.821sec
19. Robert Shwartzman [Kick Sauber] – +1.990sec
20. Oliver Bearman [Ferrari] – +3.258sec
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