Three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen ended his Friday early with an early exit from the second free practice session for the Mexico Grand Prix at the 4.304-kilometre Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City. His post-session comments were rather harsh, with expectations of a challenging weekend ahead, likely requiring a comeback.
After FP2, the day’s results were clear: Ferrari and McLaren appear to be the cars to beat this weekend. Following the long runs on prototype 2025 tires, though with very similar construction, Ferrari seemed to be in excellent form compared to McLaren, which needs further assessment. The two Red Bulls trailed behind, with Verstappen ending his session before the 90 minutes were up.
His RB20 began to show some mechanical issues related to the Power Unit, specifically a “leak” in the turbo area. Thinking they had fixed the issue, FP2 began, but shortly after, Max Verstappen again experienced a loss of power, ultimately leading to an early return to the pits. Speaking at the end of the session, Max Verstappen was blunt about his Friday and anticipates a difficult weekend ahead.
A Friday to Forget
“We’re checking on the engine side; I don’t know exactly what it is,” said Max Verstappen. “From my perspective, it was practically a useless day. I did about four or five laps, so it’s not much. At the moment, there’s not a lot to understand.”
When asked how the car felt, Max Verstappen replied, “I can’t say; I didn’t get a proper lap in, just four or five in total, including some long runs. So yes, a day to forget.” – the Dutchman admitted at the end of Friday practice in Mexico City.
The Red Bull RB20 arrives in Mexico with the aerodynamic update package introduced in Austin still needing to be understood. However, it seems that the new floor brings better balance, which is yet to be fully discovered and refined.
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