Verstappen expects fight with Perez: 'We have a quick race car'

Max Verstappen will start from pole position at the Mexican Grand Prix. It gives the reigning world champion a good starting position for the race, but the Dutchman realises better than anyone that he is far from being there yet. He let it be known in the FIA press conference.

Especially at the start, Verstappen expects to struggle. Indeed, with George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez behind him, he will have to get away well to hold his first place. "Yeah, Checo will be there tomorrow I'm sure," Verstappen stated about his teammate. "We have a quick race car. So yeah, I hope it will be quite a fun race with a lot of action."

Verstappen is also expecting a lot from Mercedes in Mexico. "Yeah, I think it will be close in the race. I mean, normally, they have very good race pace as well. So yeah, it depends on what you can do with this strategy. But we'll look into that tonight."

Russell was bitterly disappointed after qualifying. Indeed, the Briton felt he could have gone for pole position but then dropped time. As a result, he was more than three-tenths short of beating Verstappen and will start from second place on Sunday.