Max Verstappen regrets qualifying pressure in Mexico after a surprising result

Max Verstappen described the intense pressure he felt during the qualifying session for the Mexican Grand Prix in Mexico City. Despite a challenging start, Verstappen managed to secure second position on the grid.

The Mexican Grand Prix is ​​held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, a circuit notorious for its high altitude and demanding conditions, offering unique challenges for Formula 1 drivers. Altitude has a significant impact on engine performance and aerodynamics. Verstappen, who had his first lap time in Q3 scrapped for exceeding track limits, managed to take advantage of this opportunity during his second run.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took pole position with a lap time of 1:15.946, standing out as the only driver to break the 1:16 barrier. Looking back on his start just behind Sainz, Verstappen explained:

“Quite a lot of pressure after the deleted lap).

“Yesterday I hardly did many laps, so we were catching up a lot. FP3 was already not very good, so I was already under a lot of pressure to have a good qualifying and my lap time was taken away. So it caused some more pressure, but I was happy to be in the front row. I honestly didn’t think that would be possible.

“It’s probably one of the hardest tracks to get (a lap) right. Street circuits are difficult, and this too, because the low downforce makes it easy to stall or slide. Tires overheat. It is one of the most difficult on the track. calendar.”

Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate and home hero Sergio Perez had a disappointing qualifying session. The Mexican driver was eliminated in Q1, leaving him in eighteenth place tomorrow. Speaking to the media after his early departure: Perez explained:

“Very difficult, very difficult to stop the car. I just couldn’t get on top of it. I couldn’t stop the car fast enough and I just put too much energy into braking the tires. That was the main problem for me.

“It was very similar to the rest of the weekend. I just can’t stop the car and I’m having a lot of trouble with that part of the phase that starts at low speed. It’s a bit like Austin, when I just can’t attack. the corners in braking, and here you have a lot of it.”

1. Carlos Sainz
2. Max Verstappen
3. Lando Norris
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6.Lewis Hamilton
7. Kevin Magnussen
8. Pierre Gasly
9. Alex Albon
10. Nico Hulkenberg
11. Yuki Tsunoda
12. Liam Lawson
13. Fernando Alonso
14. Lance walk
15. Valtteri Bottas
16. Franco Colapinto
17. Oscar Piastri
18. Sergio Perez
19. Esteban Ocon
20.Zhou Guanyu