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Mexico GP: Verstappen leads Mercedes duo in FP2 as low grip continues

  • Darshan Chokhani
    • F1, Mexico GP

    MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 05: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on November 05, 2021 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202111050784 // Usage for editorial use only //

    Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ended up fastest in FP2 of F1 Mexico GP ahead of Mercedes duo Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton.

    The F1 Mexico GP FP2 saw more offs for drivers as the low grip situation continued on. Red Bull bounced back in the session with Verstappen (1m17.301s) on top ahead of the Mercedes duo, with Bottas (1m17.725s) second and Hamilton (1m17.810s) third.

    It was not a clean run from Hamilton as he struggled with balance issue and also had an off at Turn 1 along with his teammate Bottas. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez (1m17.871s) was fourth as the Ferrari duo sandwiched AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly (1m18.429s) in sixth.

    The Frenchman had a moment at Turn 15 when he missed the apex. It was Carlos Sainz (1m18.318s) in fifth while Charles Leclerc (1m18.605s) seventh, who complained of engine issues. AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda (1m18.644s) was eighth.

    Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel (1m18.681s) and Alpine’s Fernando Alonso (1m18.732s) rounded out the Top 10, with Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen in 11th ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. The other Alfa of Antonio Giovinazzi was 13th then.

    Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was 14th after facing similar issues like Austin, where the car was turning left on its own. The other McLaren of Daniel Ricciardo was 15th but his running was cut short after the team found an issue with his Friday gearbox.

    Haas’ Mick Schumacher was 16th but had couple of moments in Turn 12, with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in 17th, Williams’ Nicholas Latifi 18th and Haas’ Nikita Mazepin 19th. The former Canadian also had a Turn 12 moment, while the latter had one at Turn 16.

    Mazepin, meanwhile, had his at Turn 12 and also had a miss at Turn 8-9, for which he has to see the stewards for not rejoining safely. Williams’ George Russell’s session ended early after his gearbox issue where the team noted it to be his race gearbox.

    While Ricciardo set his time on the hard tyres, Stroll, Latifi and Mazepin did theirs on the medium compound.

    Here’s how F1 Mexico GP FP1 panned out