If there are no perfect laps, the one completed yesterday by Max Verstappen in Mexico City looks a lot like us. It is no coincidence that among the riders who had two sets of soft tires at their disposal in Q3, the world champion was the only one to put together all his best sectors in the same lap, the last one before the flag. chess.
At the end of Q2 the first four drivers (Hamilton, Sainz, Russell and Verstappen) were enclosed in a margin of 0 ”014, and everything suggested that the fight for pole position would have been pulled on the edge of thousandths.
Telemetry Q3 Mexico: Russell VS Verstappen
Photo by: Matteo Bobbi
It was not so. Verstappen rose to the chair, amazing even the Red Bull men themselves. For the first time in 2022, Mercedes really returned to worry direct opponents, but when it mattered both Hamilton and Russell didn’t put it all together, Verstappen did.
In the three tenths trimmed by the Mercedes tandem there is a lot of Max, who completed one of his best Saturdays with the last lap of Q3, which guaranteed him his first in Mexico City.
“I didn’t do very different things on that lap – commented Verstappen – and I hadn’t even made any mistakes in the first ‘run’. I tried to follow the evolution of the track, I attacked the curbs of turn 2 and turn 3 a little more, and so also in the last sector. I think we can make a difference in those points, we need to understand how much we can dare on the curbs ”.
After crossing the finish line, Max had to wait for a minute for the radio team of his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase who confirmed his first position. The Red Bull box was following Russell’s last lap, who up to turn 11 was one tenth behind Verstappen’s time. When the Mercedes driver made a mistake at the stadium entrance, all fears vanished.
The World Champion’s mortgage on winning the Mexican Grand Prix is a heavy one. In direct comparison with Mercedes, Red Bull boasts a better top speed, averaging 3 km / h in all measurements. Verstappen will run the greatest risk at the start, when Hamilton (who will start behind him) will have the trail of Red Bull at his disposal on the long straight that leads to the braking of turn 1.
“I expect a good fight on the race pace – confirmed Max – but I believe that our top speed will be a precious weapon to defend myself. I will try to take the lead in turn 1, otherwise we don’t have much feedback in view of the 71 laps scheduled. On Friday we did not complete the usual long-runs, so it will be a bit blind than usual, but I think the car I drove in qualifying will do well in the race as well ”.
![Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB18](https://cdn-7.motorsport.com/images/mgl/YEQnXG5Y/s8/sergio-perez-red-bull-racing-r-1.jpg)
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing RB18
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
A disappointed face was also seen at the end of qualifying in the Red Bull garage. Sergio Perez would have given everything to compete for pole with his teammate, but his was not a simple qualification.
To betray ‘Checo’ was a problem with the electrical system that sent the display on the steering wheel into tilt.
“I didn’t see my times – explained Perez – I couldn’t even see the data relating to the braking distributor as well as other very useful information in qualifying. I drove blindly, risking to find myself out in both Q1 and Q2. Considering the unforeseen events, the fourth final position can also be considered a success, but obviously I would have preferred a qualification without these problems ”.
![Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, congratulates Max Verstappen on pole](https://cdn-3.motorsport.com/images/mgl/68yNQb80/s8/sergio-perez-red-bull-racing-c-1.jpg)
Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, congratulates Max Verstappen on pole
Photo by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Images
It cannot be ruled out that Perez may try an alternative strategy in the race, especially if he fails to gain positions at the start. Without unexpected events, it is unthinkable that he could bother Verstappen, but he does not want to miss the appointment on the spectacular podium set up inside the stadium in front of his home crowd.
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