Can Mercedes mount another challenge?

Mercedes enjoyed their strongest weekend of the year last time out at the United States Grand Prix as 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton finished jus🌳t two seconds🅠 behind race winner Verstappen.

While Hamilton’s day ultimately ended with a disqualification for a technical infringement, it was still a hugely positive aft🍸ernoon for Merce🎃des.

Hamilton was buoyed by the impact of the new floor which Mercedes introduced for the 🔥wඣeekend in Austin as they look to learn ahead of next year.

A better strategy with tidier pit stops would have likely handed Hamil🎃ton his first victory - for a 🦩few hours at least - since the end of 2021.

No doubt, Haꦡmilton is a COTA specialist but Mercedes were clearly the second-quickest team, taking into 🅰consideration Verstappen’s pace was slightly hampered by a recurring brake issue.

ꦗMercedes will be hopeful for more of the same in Mexico, where they were able to run Red Bull fairly close last ꦜyear.

Hamilton was in contention for the race victory at the Auto💎dromo Hermanos Rodriguez 12 months earlier - but again, a poor strategy choice to go medium-hard allowe꧋d Verstappen to take another comfortable victory.

The pecking order behind Red Bull is often difficult to pr☂edict, especially with Ferrari’s fluctuating performance.

McLaren often fare best in high-speed, high-load corners, so on paper at least, are unlike🎃ly to be as fast as 💙Mercedes or Ferrari.

Ferrari struggled in Mexico last year because the high �꧋�altitude put additional strain on their engines - could the same happen this year?

One thing is for certain is😼 that Verstappen will be the man to beat at a venue he’s won four ꦆtimes at.

Without an unfortunate pun༒cture in ෴2019, Verstappen probably would have five wins in Mexico to his name.

Mercedes will probably be Red Bull’s nearest challenger again but it’s hard to look past Verstaꦺppen winning for a 51st time in F1.

Home soil pressure for Perez

The pressure continues to be on 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sergio Perez to perform as🐬 he looks to secure P2 in the championship ahead of Hamilton.

Perez sღtrengthened his grip on the runners-up spo𓂃t behind Verstappen with his fourth-place finish in Austin.

He’s now 39 pointsꦕ ahead of Hamilton with just four rounds (and one sprint race to go).

Astonish🌱ingly, if Perez is able to s🐻ecure P2, it would be the first time in Red Bull’s history they would see their drivers finish first and second in the championship.

Perez has finished on the podium just two times in the last seven races, and he’s not beaten Verstappen on merit si🍌nce the fourth round at the end of April.

Winning in fro🎃nt of his adoring home crowd is a pipe dream but a podium would be a respectable return to form and something he can celebrate.

The battle for the wooden spoon hots up 

The battle for last in the constructors’ championship continues to hot up after 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Yuki Tsunoda’s P8 finish in Austin.

Tsunoda came 💟away with eighth and the fastest lap to give AlphaTauri five🌃 crucial points in the constructors’ championship.

It means the Italian 𓂃outfit sits just two points behind Haas, and six behind Alfa Romeo.

Each position in the championship ꦉi𓄧s worth approximately $10 million so there’s a lot at stake going into the final run of races.

All change in FP1

A number of teams will be fielding ‘rookie’ drivers in Mexico as part of F1’s rule that they must do so on at least two occasions d🍃uring the season.

Due to there being a sprint weeke♔nd in Brazil - and Las Vegas being a new track - many teams will likely opt for Mexico and Abu Dhabi to field their young driver.

Mercedes have Danish star Frederik Vesti driving for them in place of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell.

Vesti currently sits second in the FIA Formula 2 standings wi🍸th one round to go 🐻and has been part of the Mercedes junior roster since 2019.

Alpine are running Jack Doohan, whil♕e highly-rated Ferrari youngster - and Brit - O♈liver Bearman will be in the Haas.

Frenchman Isack ꦑHadjar will get a chance to drive the AlphaTauri in FP1.