Verstappen was over four-tenths clear of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas in second practic🐼e at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, with main title rival Lewis Hamilton a further tenth back in third.

The 24-year-old has w𓃲on in Mexico on two previous occasions and l✨ooks well placed to extend his 12-point lead in the F1 drivers' championship.

Despite a strong start to the weekend, Verstappen still wants more from his Red Bull RB16B going into qualifyin♚g.

“Yeah it was quite a good day,” Verstappen said. “Of course always trying to improve the car, 🌸trying to make it feel better, and of course also in FP1 the track was very dirty, so in FP2 that was already a bit nicer.

“It seemed like the car is working 🌼quite well, there’s a few things of course to look at, but it’s pretty good.”

Verstappen admitted that it’s “diffi🌌cult to tell” if main rivals Mercedes has more pace in hand or not.

He added: “Well we have a good feeling but of course tomorrow we need to be there as well. So we’ll loo𓄧k into a lot of things but it’s a positive start to the weekend.

“It’s always difficult t𓆏o tell, but we are never happy and will always 𒁃try to improve.”

Sergio Perez recovered well from a l꧟ight crash during the early stages of FP1 where he damaged his rear wing.

Perez finished the day in fourth🐷 and is eyeing improvements over one lap.

“I think we didn’t lose as much going into the session,” Perez explained. “It was a shame that we damaged the car and gaꦕve a bit of extra work to the boys. But other than that it was a positive day. I’m feeling more comfortable in the long run than over the one lap.

“So I think there is potential to improve the car over one lap. The margins are going to be very close t🍨omorrow with the Mercs, so hopefully, we’re able to lockout that front row.”