Max Verstappen once again tops FP3 as teams prepare for qualifying, with Alex Albon in second while Sergio Perez finishes third.
In what was mostly a clean session, Verstappen marginally took the top position in FP3. Making it treble in Mexico. Red Bull looks, once again, the favourite to take pole.
While home hero Perez took third, looking hopeful to return to the podium this weekend, Albon showed impressive pace.
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The Thai driver finished 0.070 tenths off Verstappen’s quickest lap. However, many teams seemed to hold back pace including Ferrari who seemed to struggle to set a lap.
Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz left the session upset after both struggling in traffic. Leclerc narrowly avoided an incident with Kevin Magnussen, while Sainz spun, taking too much curb exiting turn 10.
Sainz seemed to blame Lance Stroll who was ahead of the Spaniard for not moving despite blue flag warnings.
Neither Magnussen nor Stroll are to be investigated following either incident.
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“If we get the strategy right this weekend, maybe we can really take the fight to them.”
Elsewhere, Mercedes seemed to struggle with both drivers complaining on the radio. While George Russell commented on understeer, Lewis Hamilton was heard requesting driving advice from his race engineer Peter Bonnington.
The German team has previously struggled in Mexico, last winning at the highest altitude track on the calendar in 2019.
It is yet to be known if the team are expecting their new upgrades to make a difference this weekend. However, Hamilton has commented he thinks the team can continue to take the fight to Red Bull.
He said: “If we get the strategy right this weekend, maybe we can really take the fight to them.”
Daniel Ricciardo also gave a glimpse of hope after his dismal Austin Grand Prix, making three top tens in free practice. Finishing ninth, he finished sixth in FP2 bringing hope his pace may be stronger this weekend.
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