Max Verstappen unhappy with Red Bull’s long-run simulations at the F1 Mexican GP. Max Verstappen admitted he’s not satisfied with his race pace after Friday practice in Mexico.

Red Bull resumed its work in Mexico from where it left off, with Max Verstappen once again setting the pace in the qualifying simulations, despite sitting out the first practice session. However, the Friday program for Red Bull was far from perfect. When running with a heavier fuel load, the RB21 appeared less competitive compared to Lando Norris’s McLaren. Although many variables must be considered typical for early sessions, Max Verstappen made it clear he expects more from his car to confidently fight at the front.

Red Bull keeps pushing despite inconsistent race pace

One thing is certain: the team from Milton Keynes continues to push the RB21’s development to the limit. This has been confirmed by Red Bull’s Chief Engineer, Paul Monaghan. The team introduced the sixth version of the floor in Mexico, along with track-specific upgrades adapted to the unique characteristics of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Monaghan also hinted that more updates will arrive in the next few races, reaffirming that Red Bull won’t ease off the throttle.

These refinements are part of a longer-term transformation process that began after the summer break, aimed at regaining consistent competitiveness. The team strongly believes in this direction, stressing that giving up the fight would make little sense. If there’s one race where starting from pole isn’t necessarily decisive, it’s Mexico. The long main straight down to Turn 1 often rewards those who can make the most of the slipstream from the car ahead.

For this reason, most teams focused their efforts on race pace. During his medium-tyre stint, Max Verstappen reported significant grip issues, describing the feeling as “like driving on ice.” Engineers, however, didn’t identify any alarming temperature variations in the tyres of car number 1, suggesting the issue was likely due to track adaptation rather than a mechanical imbalance.

There was, nonetheless, one positive aspect: the Dutchman’s lap times during the heavy-fuel simulations, though slower than his direct rivals, remained remarkably consistent. In other words, there was no performance drop-off over the run. These observations will be reviewed during the third and final practice session, as Red Bull prepares for a crucial qualifying session that could shape the rest of the weekend.

Verstappen wants much more from his RB21

Within this context, it’s impossible to ignore the importance of the four-time Formula 1 world champion. Even after giving up his car to Arvid Lindblad—who impressively set the sixth-fastest time in car number 1—during FP1, Verstappen immediately found his rhythm once he returned to the cockpit. The Dutchman has always been exceptionally strong at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, one of his favorite circuits, and he is determined to maintain that reputation this weekend as he continues his pursuit of another world title.

Beating McLaren will not be an easy task. Max Verstappen realized this the moment he saw Lando Norris’s pace in the long-run simulations with the MCL39. During the usual post-session interviews, Verstappen admitted he was not satisfied with the car’s behavior once more fuel was added. The Dutchman emphasized that Red Bull needs to find more stability and grip to match their rivals over race distance. Unlike in previous rounds, the Austrian team will have to make several overnight adjustments to provide Verstappen with a car capable of keeping their championship hopes alive.