Verstappen Dominates Mexico GP FP2 with Upgraded Red Bull, Piastri Struggles

Max Verstappen led the second practice session at the Mexico Grand Prix, showcasing Red Bull's updated Formula 1 challenger. This strong performance comes as championship leader Oscar Piastri found himself down in 12th position.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's dominant run in FP2, especially after missing much of FP1, highlights Red Bull's ongoing commitment to development, even late in the season. The introduction of an upgraded floor signals their intent to maintain a competitive edge, while Piastri's struggles could impact his championship aspirations.

The Details:

• Verstappen's Performance: Verstappen quickly adapted to the circuit, setting a benchmark time of 1m17.392s on soft tires, 0.153s faster than Charles Leclerc. He also used flow-vis paint to gather data on Red Bull's new floor, an unusual but critical step for late-season upgrades.
• Leclerc's Pace: Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was an early pacesetter on medium tires (1m18.353s) and later on softs (1m17.545s), demonstrating strong one-lap speed.
• Piastri's Position: Championship leader Oscar Piastri finished 12th, nearly a second off Verstappen's pace, indicating a challenging session for the McLaren driver.
• Other Notable Performances: Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured an impressive third despite technical issues. Lando Norris, despite ceding his car in FP1, managed fourth place but reported "a lot of misfires." Lewis Hamilton and George Russell followed in fifth and sixth, respectively.
• Alpine's Struggles: Alpine continued to face difficulties, with Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly finishing 18th and 20th, significantly off the pace and four tenths behind the next slowest team, Sauber.
• Verstappen's Frustration: Despite his fastest time, Verstappen voiced frustration over his car's handling on older medium tires, describing it as "terrible" with "no grip, like driving on ice."

The Big Picture:

Red Bull's decision to bring a new floor to Mexico, despite Verstappen's commanding position, underscores the relentless development race in F1. While Verstappen topped the session, his feedback on long-run pace suggests that raw speed on a single lap doesn't always translate to race-long comfort. Piastri's lower-than-expected position might be a one-off, but it's a reminder of the competitive field, especially as the championship battle intensifies.

What's Next:

Teams will now analyze the data from FP2 to fine-tune their setups for qualifying. Red Bull will be particularly focused on addressing Verstappen's concerns regarding tire degradation and handling on longer runs. The performance gaps, especially between second and tenth place, indicate that qualifying will be extremely tight, making every thousandth of a second crucial. All eyes will be on how Piastri recovers and if Red Bull's upgrades truly deliver consistent performance across a race distance.