Ferrari enters the Mexico race weekend without a win for a year, and prospects remain slim as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen eyes victory over McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, has impressively clawed back from a 104-point deficit to Piastri in August to just 40 points now, seeking his fourth win in five races.
Carlos Sainz was Ferrari’s last victor in Mexico on October 27 last year, with Norris second and Verstappen a frustrated sixth after two 10-second penalties.
Now with Williams, Sainz won’t be competing this time, especially after a five-place grid penalty in Texas last Sunday.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, with two Mexico wins, hasn’t reached the podium in his 19 starts since joining Ferrari in January, while teammate Charles Leclerc has six podiums, including a second place in Monaco in May.
Verstappen’s form is formidable at the high-altitude track in Mexico, where he’s triumphed five times.
“The current top combination seems to be Verstappen and Red Bull,” noted McLaren boss Andrea Stella after Verstappen’s pole-to-win sprint race in the US Grand Prix.
Stella highlighted Brazil, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi as strong tracks for McLaren, notably omitting Mexico, which could challenge Piastri, whose last podium was three races ago, with his lead over Norris now just 14 points.
Norris, with podiums in three of the last four races since Hungary, could overtake if Piastri falters.
Mercedes’ George Russell sits fourth, 94 points behind Piastri, and is largely out of the title chase, as McLaren targets their first title double since 1998 after clinching the constructors’ championship.
Ferrari and Russell could still influence the title race by claiming crucial points from McLaren and Verstappen.
“Each race weekend now involves three or four teams vying for victory if they maximize their car’s potential,” said Red Bull’s Laurent Mekies.
“Success depends on which team best adapts to the track, conditions, temperatures, and tires.”
Red Bull is also watching Yuki Tsunoda, whose future hinges on Mexico, as he shows recent progress with 16 points in three events, though modest compared to Verstappen’s 76.
“While it’s progress, it’s not enough,” admitted Mekies. “It’s about improving race starts and first laps.”
The second-place battle in team standings is fierce, with Mercedes leading Ferrari by seven and Red Bull trailing by three.
Williams looks secure in fifth, while Sauber, Aston Martin, and Racing Bulls vie for sixth.
