As the Mexican Grand Prix approaches, Red Bull Racing drivers, particularly Max Verstappen, express their concerns about the start at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. The particular length of the run to the first corner could be decisive for the race strategy.
Verstappen, who aimed for pole position, saw his final lap affected by a lock-up at turn 13. According to the driver, this incident was partly due to Lando Norris slightly blocking him in the final sector. The qualifying result, which would normally have placed him on the second row, will see him start from fifth position due to a penalty.
Starting from fifth place is particularly disappointing, as the second row has proven to be an advantageous position in the past in Mexico. The slipstream is very powerful on the way to the first corner, and Verstappen’s penalty could complicate his strategy.
Despite his expectations for improvement, the team has struggled with their starts this season. Team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged that they will not be able to completely resolve the issue this year, as they will need to make significant hardware changes, such as to the clutch system, which will be introduced in 2027.
While he expressed hope for progress with what they have this year, Verstappen made it clear that he still does not feel confident about the starts. This uncertainty comes after practicing several starts in Mexico that have not gone very well. In a radio communication, he even said: ‘I can drive faster from the start line; it’s a disaster.’
During a press conference, Verstappen joked about making a Le Mans-style start, claiming that it might be just as fast. ‘Maybe we should do it. It would be just as fast!’, he commented humorously.
His teammate, Isack Hadjar, shares the concern and hopes that the difficulties with the starts will improve, but he is aware that he is stepping into unknown territory, especially after several technical issues experienced over the weekend.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
