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 int🔥ense fight for second-place in the dri♕vers’ championship, 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 Pere🤪z’s home race, and a first-ever victory in frontꦓ 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 Prix꧑, where he bacꦆked Lewis Hamilton up considerably during the race.
W💃oꦅuld Verstappen be willing to return the favour and help Perez win in Mexico?
Verstappen has already wrapped up the dr𓆉ivers’ title, but he's searching for his 14th victor♒y of the year.
A 14th win would move him clear in the record books for the most number of wins in a season, but Vers♑tappen will have opportunities to do it in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
Verstappen ha🦂s dominated the Mexico City GP in recent seasons, winning on three occasions.
It's likely that the Dutchman will be the man to beat, but if Perez is running in ꦓsecond, would he give up the win?
Given how competitive a🅰nd hungry Verstappen is to win, i❀t’s highly unlikely, but it's an interesting talking point nonetheless.
Can Mercedes end their win drought?
Mercedes are on 🥀for their first winless sea🦩son since 2011.
The United States GP was another n🐓ear miss for Hamilton and Mercedes, losing out on the victory in the closing five laps.
Hamilton took the lead after an aggressive undercut, combinedꦿ with a slow pit stop for Verstappen.
Mercedes’ lack of outright pace, alongside their lack of straight-line speed, meant Hamilton was unable𒈔 to fend off his former title rival to🍷 claim his first victory since Saudi Arabia last year.
Looking ahead to Mexico, while traditionally the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez hasn🍰’t suited Mercedes, this year might be d🔯ifferent.
Due to the high altitude, teams are forced to run maxim🅺um downforce, and at any circuits that Mercedes have performed well o🅰n (Zandvoort, Hungaroring), high downforce is required.
T🗹heir lack of straig🥀ht-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 engine power - but always performed well in M🥀exico.
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 competitive showin❀g this weekend.
More rookies get their chance
Like in Austin, more rook💮ies will get their chance to prove themselves in 2022 F1 machiꦺnery.
For Alpine, Jack Doohan will make 🔯his F1 debut in first practice at the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi grands pri🎀x.
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 𝓡tyres 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.
Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi will dri𓆏ve for Haas i🐽n 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 B🐻ull regarding their minor breach of the cost c🌠ap for the 2021 season.
Ahead of Sunday's United States Grand Prix, a Red Bull spokesperson said: "Following the pꦦassing of Mr Mateschitz, all conversations with the FIA around Cost Cap and next steps are on hold until further notice.
"The deadline for agreement has been extend💛ed and we expect talks to pick back up in the middle of the week."
Red Bull’s overspending in 202♔1 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 te🅷ams 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 m💎ajor talking point in Mexico.
With a sharp eye for F1🌌’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the heartbeat of our unbiased reporting.
