Piastri hints at key factor that 'can unlock pace' ahead of Mexican GP

When asked whether the issues he faced in Austin a week ago were similar to the ones he’s encountered so far this weekend in Mexico, the championship leader replied: “In some ways not too dissimilar. I think what’s been a bit surprising here has just been that the gap has been the same pretty much every session.

When asked whether the dirty air from the cars ahead could force him into a defensive race, the Australian added: “I’ll try my best. It’s obviously the longest run of the year, so I’ll try and make up some spots there, but I think if I can unlock the pace in the car, we can have some fun. We’ve just got to try and unlock it.”

Although he admitted he didn’t encounter any major issues and that the car felt normal, the Australian still ended up six tenths off his teammate — and pole-sitter — which naturally raised suspicions of an underlying issue with his MCL39.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella also commented on the championship leader’s uncharacteristic qualifying session, admitting that “Every evidence, every piece of data, every indirect measurement or information we have tells us that there is no problem with the car.”