Verstappen flags Ferrari as main Mexico threat: 'Should play into their hands'
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
Max Verstappen believes the demands of the Mexico City circuit should suit Ferrari, after Charles Leclerc topped both practice sessions on Friday.
The four-time world champion finished fifth in FP2 after sitting out FP1. It was not a great session for Verstappen who was involved in a tangle with Liam Lawson, damaging his car.
Asked whether Ferrari had impressed him, the Red Bull driver highlighted their pace in recent weeks and suggested the track characteristics could further favour them.
“Well, they’ve been quick already in sessions the last few weeks,” Verstappen said.
“So this is a track where, you know, you need even more low-speed performance, so it should normally, of course, play into their hands.”
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Verstappen also explained that the characteristics of the Mexico City circuit does not make it an enjoyable experience. When asked about the circuit he said: “Even more sliding, you need to be very patient with your driving. So, yeah. I mean, personally, it’s not the most fun, but you also know that that’s a different challenge, and, you know, you just need to try and understand it more.”
Verstappen sends warning to Lawson
While speaking to the media after the session, Verstappen also warned Lawson that it was "not smart behaviour" to pick a fight with him.
He said: “I was on a fast out lap because I had some little issues. So I was pushing on quite a bit, he was driving really slow. So I was like, alright, let’s go for it. But as soon as he saw me arrive, he started to speed up as well. And yeah, I didn’t know what was going through his head in that hairpin trying to run me off the track.
“For me it’s not very smart behaviour when you’re in this position to pick a fight with me.”
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