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’ ch🌊ampionship, trailing Charles 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 Per൲ez’s home race, and a first-ever victory 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澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he backed Lewis Hamilton up considerably during the race𒉰.
Would Verstappen be willing t🤪o return🦩 the favour and help Perez win in Mexico?
Verstappen has already wrapped up the drivers’ title, but he's searching for his 14th victory of the ye🍎ar.
A 14th win would move him clear in the record books for the most number of wins in a season, but Verstappen will have op🍎portunities to do it in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen has dominated the Mexico City GP in recent sea𝐆sons, winning on three occasion🥃s.
It's likely that t๊he Dutchman will be the man to beat, but if Perez is running in second, would he give up the win?
Given how competitive and h🍌ungry 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 fo♊r their first winless✃ season since 2011.
The Unit▨ed States GP was another near miss for Hamilton and Mercedes, losing o🧜ut on the victory in the closing five laps.
H🧸amilton took the lead a🅠fter an aggressive undercut, combined with a slow pit stop for Verstappen.
Mercedes’ lack of outright pace, alongside their lack of straight-line speed, mཧeant Hamilton was unable to fend off his former title rival to claim his first victory since Saudi Arabia last year.
Looking ahead to Mexico, while traditionally the Autodro🐽mo Hermanos Rodriguez hasn’t suited Mercedes, this year might be diff🐓erent.
Due to the high altitude, teams are forced to run maximum downforce, and at any circuits that Mercedes have performed well on (Zandvoort, Hun🍷garoring), high downforce is req𓃲uired.
🔥Their lack of straight-ཧline 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 engine power - but always 🌳performed well in Mexico.
While the Renault and Honda power units were renowned for performing bette🌌r than Mercedes and Ferrari at altitude, the German manufacturer should be hopeful of another competitive showing this weekend.
More rookies get their chance
Like in Austin, more rookies will get their chance to prove themselves in 2022 F1 machi�♊�nery.
For Alpine, Jack Doohan will make his F1 debut in first practice at the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi grands pr🐬ix.
Doohan will replace Esteban Ocon in FP1 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, driving 𝓰Alpine’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 FP1 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.
Brazili𒆙an Pietro Fittipaldi will drive 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 season𒁃.
Ahead of Sunday's United States Gran🤡d 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 agree💮ment 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 numbe🃏r of team bosses, including Toto Wolff and Zak Brown, have called for strict punishments to deter teams from breach♛ing 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 set🥀tlement isn’t reached, it’s likely to remain a major talking p๊oint in Mexico.
Wi🉐th a sharp eye for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the hea🥂rtbeat of our unbiased reporting.
