F1 Mexico City GP: Will Max Verstappen repay Sergio Perez by giving up win?
Will Verstappen help Perez at his home race?
Sergio Perez is locked in an intense fight for second-place in the drivers’ championship, trailing Charles Leclerc by just t✃wo points with three round🐓s remaining.
While Red Bull have already secured the drivers’ and constructors’ crowns, they will still be wanting Perez to finish second behind Max Verstappen - something they never managed in the days of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
The 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 Mexico City Grand Prix is Perez’s home race, and a first-ever victory in front of his🌠 adoring fans ඣwould be something special to see.
During his Red Bull career, Perez has helped Verstappen on multiple occasions, most notably at the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he backed Le💯wis Hamilton up considerably during the race.
Would Verstappen be willing to return the favour and helꦍp🅰 Perez win in Mexico?
Verst🦩appen has already wrappeꩵd up the drivers’ title, but he's searching for his 14th victory of the year.
A 14th win would move him clear in the record books for the most number of wins in a season, but Verstappen wi⛦ll have opportunities to do it in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
Versta🐬ppen has dominated the Mexico City GP in recen꧑t seasons, winning on three occasions.
It's likely that the Dutchman wil🎃l be the man to beat, but if Perez is running in second, would he give up the win?
Given how competitive and hungry Verstappen is to win, it’s highly unlikely, but it's an interesting ꦕtalking point nonetheless.
Can Mercedes end their win drought?
Mercꦺedes are on for their first winless 🌸season since 2011.
The United States GP was another near🐟 miss for Hamilton and Mercedes, losing out on the victory in 🥂the closing five laps.
Hamilton took the lead after an aggressiveꦡ undercut, combined with a slow pit stop for Verstappen.
Mercedes’ lack of outright pace,🐠 alongside their lack of straight-line speed, meant Hamilton was unable to fend off his former title rival to claim his first victory since Saudi Arabia last year.
Lo🧔oking ahead to Mexico, while traditionally the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez hasn’t suited Mercedes, this year might be different.
Due to the high altitude, teams are forced to run maximum downforce, and at any circuits that Mercedes have perform♊ed well on (Zandvoort, Hungaroring), high downforce is required.
Their🀅 lack of straight꧙-line speed should be less of a factor in Mexico City.
Over the years, Red Bull were often in Mercedes’ position - lacking straight-line speed and engin꧙e power - but always performed well in Mexico.
While the Renault and Honda power units were renowned for performing better than Mercedes and Ferrari at altitude, the German manufacturer shou𒀰ld be hopeful of another competitive showing this weekend.
More rookies get their chance
Like in Austin, more rookies wil꧂l get their chance to prove themselves in 2022 F1 machinery.
For Alpine, Jack Doohan will make his F1 debut in first pra💃ctice at the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi grands prix.
Doohan will replace Esteban Ocon in FP1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, driving Alpine’s 2022 challenger for just 📖the second time having tested for the team on demonstration tyres at Monza last month.
It’s likely Oscar Piastri would have been in the car for these FP🍸1 sessions had it not been for his shock switch to McLaren for F1 2023.
At AlphaTauri, Liam Lawson will replace 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Yuki Tsunoda for the first hour of running.
Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi will drive for Haas in💮 first practice, while 2023 Williams driver Logan Sarg♑eant will get another chance to drive for the team in Mexico.
168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 cost cap to be settled?
Following the death of Dietrich Mateschitz, the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:FIA decided to delay discussions with Red Bull regarding their minor breach of the cost cap💯 for the 2021 season.
Ahead of Sunday's United States Grand Prix, a Red Bull spokesperson said: "Following the passing of Mr Mateschitz, all conversat🌸ions with the FIA around Cost Cap and next steps are on hold until further notice.
"The deadline for agreement has been extended🌃 and we ✤expect talks to pick back up in the middle of the week."
Red Bull’s overspending in 2021 has dominated t🅘he media headlines in recent weeks, with a resolution still yet to be found.
A number of team bosses, including Toto Wolff and Zak Brown, have called for strict punishm🐷ents to deter teams from breaching the cost cap in future seasons.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner went on the defensive on Saturday in Austin, blasting rival teams for waging a “concerted campaign for a draconian ✱penalty” for their ‘minor’ overspend.
Even if a settlement isn’t reached, 🎃it’s likely to remain a major talking point in Mexico.
With a sharp eye for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the heartbeat of♑ our unbiased reporting.
