Verstappen Lacks Confidence in Red Bull Starts After Mexico Qualifying Setback

Max Verstappen believes he had the pace for pole in Mexico City, but a Turn 13 lock-up ended his final qualifying run and left him fifth on the grid after a penalty. The bigger concern for Red Bull is its recurring starts, with the long run to Turn 1 exposing a weakness the team cannot fully fix until 2027.

Why it matters:

Red Bull’s qualifying setback is manageable; its launch problems are not. At a circuit where slipstreaming and Turn 1 positioning matter, a poor getaway could undo a strong car and complicate Verstappen’s race.

The details:

• Verstappen said Lando Norris’s presence in the final sector contributed to the lock-up that ruined his last lap.
• His grid penalty from the Liam Lawson incident means he starts fifth, making the lost second row more costly given Mexico’s powerful tow.
• Team principal Laurent Mekies has admitted Red Bull needs hardware changes, including to the clutch, to solve the issue—but those can only arrive in 2027.
• Verstappen was blunt when asked if he had more confidence in the start: "No, not really, if I’m really honest."
• He joked about doing a Le Mans-style start, running and jumping into the car, after practice launches went badly.
• Isack Hadjar hopes for improvement but called it a step into the unknown after limited running and few practice starts.

What's next:

Red Bull can still refine procedures and has made gains since Melbourne, but Mexico’s long dash to Turn 1 will test that progress immediately. If the starts remain poor, Verstappen’s race could unravel before the first braking zone.