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 intens🥀e fight for second-place in the drivers’ championship, trailing ꦗCharles Leclerc by just two points with three rounds 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5最新开奖结果:Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
The 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:F1 Mexico City Grand Prix is Perez’s home race, and a first-ever vi🌊ctory in front of his adoring fans would be something special to see.
During his Red Bull career, Perez has helped Verstappen on multiple occasions, most notably at the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he backed Lewis Hamilton🐼 up conside🌊rably during the race.
Would Verstappen be willing to return the favour an🥃d help Pe🦩rez win in Mexico?
Verstappen has already wrapped up the drivers’ title, but he's searching for his 14th vi༺ctory of the year.
A 14th win would move him clear in the record books for the most number of wins in a season, but Verstappe﷽n will have opportunities to do it in Brazil and A🍨bu Dhabi.
Verstappen has dominated the Mexico City GP in rec♍ent seasons, winning on three occasions.
It's likely 𒁃that the Dutchman will be the man to beat, but if Perez is runni🌃ng in second, would he give up the win?
Given how competitive and hung𝓀ry Verstappen is to win, it’s highly unlikely, but it's an interesting talking point nonetheless.
Can Mercedes end their win drought?
Mercedes are on f🐽or their first winless season since 2011.
The United States GP was another near miss for Hamilton and Me✅rcedes, losing out on the victory in the closing five laps.
Ham﷽ilton took the lead after an aggressive undercut, combined with a slow pit stop for Verstappen.
Mercedes’ lack of outright pace, alongside their la🏅ck of straight-line speed, meant Hamilton was unable to fend off his former t𒁏itle rival to claim his first victory since Saudi Arabia last year.
Looking ahead to Mexico, while traditionally the Autodromo Hermano🌃s 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 cirꦛcuits that Mercedes have performed well on (Zandvoort, Hungaroring), high downforce is required.
Their lack of straight-line speed should be less𝓰 of a factorꦇ in Mexico City.
Over the years, Red Bull weꦍre often in Mercedes’ position - lacking strai🌸ght-line speed and engine 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 should be hopeful of another competitiv🌞e showing this weekend.
More rookies get their chance
Like in Austin, more rookies will get their chance to prove themselves🤪 in🔜 2022 F1 machinery.
For Alpine, Jack Doohan will make his F1 🥃debut in first practice at ꧑the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi grands prix.
Doohan will replace Esteban Ocon in FP1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodrigue𒁃z, driving Alpine’s 2022 challenger for just the second time hav🌊ing tested for the team on demonstration tyres at Monza last month.
It’s likely༒ Oscar Piastri would have been in the car for these FP1 sessions had it not been for his shock switch to M💟cLaren for F1 2023.
At AlphaTauri, Liam Lawson will replace 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Yuki Tsunoda for the first hour of running.
Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi wi💞ll driveꦏ for Haas in first practice, while 2023 Williams driver Logan Sargeant will get another chance to drive for the team in Mexico.
168澳洲5最新开奖结果:F1 cost cap to be settled?
Following the death of Dietrich Mateschitz, the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:FIA decided to delay discussions with Red Bull regarding their minor brꦡeach 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 conversations with the FIA around Cost Cap and next steps🗹 are on hold until further notice.
"The deadline for agr𒁃eement 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 the 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 punishments to deter teams from breaching the cost cap in future seasons.
Red Bull boss Chri🥂stian Horner went on the defensive on Saturday in Austin, blasting rival teams for waging a “concerted campaign for a draconi𝔍an penalty” for their ‘minor’ overspend.
꧋Even if a set꧂tlement 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.
