Max Verstappen’s engine woes continued to closely restrict the world championship chief’s working on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix as George Russell’s large crash interrupted Observe Two.
In a session that was prolonged past the same old hour to 90 minutes to permit for the testing of subsequent yr’s tyre compounds, Verstappen did simply 4 laps and didn’t set a time.
The Purple Bull driver earlier had his Observe One working curtailed by an engine challenge which group principal Christian Horner described as “menial” earlier than it appeared to right away return within the day’s second session.
Russell had proven spectacular tempo in topping the opening session for Mercedes however lasted simply 12 minutes of Observe Two as he misplaced management at Flip 8 and slammed into the barrier at excessive velocity
The Brit was launched from the medical centre at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez regardless of having gingerly made his manner from his W15 to the medical automobile following the incident.
“I don’t really know what happened,” Russell stated. “The automobile simply began bouncing within the floor and earlier than I even had the possibility to catch it, it was already spinning.
“A lot of work for the guys tonight again, it just seems like it is one thing after another at the moment.”
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Sky F1’s Martin Brundle was trackside to have a look at the harm George Russell did to his Mercedes after having an enormous crash throughout P2 in Mexico.
Carlos Sainz topped the session for Ferrari, however the timesheet was tough to gauge given the tyre compounds every driver was working weren’t made public.
Oscar Piastri was second for McLaren, whereas his team-mate and Verstappen’s nearest title challenger, Lando Norris, was fifth.
Norris was one among a gaggle of 5 drivers, additionally together with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who didn’t run within the first session as their groups fulfilled their obligation to run younger drivers in two practices in the course of the season.
The British duo, together with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu, had been due to this fact allowed to run customary 2024 medium compound tyres in the course of the closing levels of Observe Two.
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Highlights from Friday’s follow periods on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
Norris improved by nearly half a second on the medium tyre to rise from ninth to fourth, whereas Alonso, who’s driving at a report four-hundredth race weekend, jumped from fifteenth to ninth within the closing moments.
Verstappen leads Norris by 57 factors on the high of the Drivers’ Championship with 5 rounds of the 2024 season remaining.
The Purple Bull driver stated he was assured his engine would not have to be modified, which might probably lead to grid penalties if crucial.
“No, we will be alright,” Verstappen stated when requested about the potential for an influence unit change.
“From the engine side, we are checking. I don’t know what it is. From my side, a useless day. I did four or five laps. Not much to read into at the moment.”
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Max Verstappen was left pissed off with the efficiency of his Purple Bull after having to come back into the pitlane throughout each P1 and P2 in Mexico.
Friday’s monitor motion was accompanied by a serious sideshow, with McLaren’s bid to overturn the penalty given to Norris for overtaking Verstappen throughout final weekend’s United States Grand Prix enjoying out.
A primary listening to, by which McLaren had been required to supply “significant and relevant” new proof that was unavailable on the time of the choice, came about between Friday’s periods at 9.30pm UK time, however no announcement had been made by the FIA when Observe Two completed three hours later.
Williams’ Alex Albon didn’t make it on monitor throughout second follow after struggling a serious crash of his personal in the course of the first session, which left his automobile needing too many repairs to be able to return to motion.
The stewards determined no motion was crucial concerning Albon’s collision that preceded the crash with British teenager Ollie Bearman, who was representing Ferrari as a younger driver.
Sky Sports activities F1’s reside Mexico Metropolis GP schedule
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Look again at a few of the most dramatic moments to have taken place on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix
Saturday October 26
6.15pm: Mexico Metropolis GP Observe Three (session begins at 6.30pm)
9pm: Mexico Metropolis GP Qualifying build-up*
10pm: Mexico Metropolis GP Qualifying*
Sunday October 27
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico Metropolis GP build-up*
8pm: THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico Metropolis GP response
*additionally reside on Sky Sports activities Essential Occasion (Race build-up on Sunday from 7.30pm)
Components 1’s Americas triple header continues this weekend with the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix, with each session reside on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
