Max Verstappen at Mexico City GP: Image credit: RacePictures

Verstappen adamant 'we were nowhere' despite topping FP2 in Mexico

01:49, 25 Oct

Updated: 01:50, 25 Oct

byLuke-John Buckle

Max Verstappen set the quickest time in second practice ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, but the Dutchman is adamant he has a lot of work to do.

"As soon as you go into a sustainable run, tyres are going hot. We were nowhere."

- Max Verstappen

Verstappen sat out the opening practice session at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as rookie Arvid Lindblad drove in FP1. This left the reigning world champion with some track time to make up.

The Red Bull driver told F1 TV after the second practice session that he just lacked grip in FP2 and struggled with tyre temperatures.

He said: "The balance wasn't even off. It was just no grip. That is the bigger concern. As soon as you go into a sustainable run, tyres are going hot.

"We were nowhere. That's a tough one, I think, to sort out as well, but we'll see. The short run, I think on the soft, we managed to do a good lap. The rest, everything else was pretty bad.

"So on the medium short run was not great. And the big problem is the long runs where we seem to struggle a lot."

Max Verstappen after United States Grand Prix win. Picture: RacePictures

Max Verstappen is aiming for a fifth consecutive world title

Verstappen has been on blistering form in recent races, and the Dutchman has won three of the last four Grands Prix.

Friday in Mexico was more difficult for Verstappen as he missed FP1 and lacked grip over the long runs in the second session of the day.

He is now 40 points off the pace in the world title battle, but is applying significant pressure to McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

There is still a lot to play for in the title battle, and Verstappen has won in Mexico a record five times in Formula 1.

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