Max Verstappen arrives at the high-altitude Hermanos Rodriguez circuit with a comfortable 57-point lead over McLaren’s Lando Norris in the 2024 Formula 1 title battle. Despite recent momentum for Norris, Verstappen broke a streak in Austin by finishing third ahead of the Briton, signaling a crucial shift as he looks to maintain his championship lead.
For Norris, his fourth-place finish in the U.S. Grand Prix felt like a setback in his pursuit of Verstappen. “It was a momentum killer,” he admitted, reflecting on a weekend where McLaren couldn’t capitalize. However, Red Bull sees this result as a potential turning point, with Verstappen having found renewed pace.
“We have historically done well here, and I have always enjoyed driving at this track,” Verstappen said, confident ahead of the Mexican GP, a venue where he’s enjoyed significant success. “We made some good steps in Austin, and it’s about keeping this momentum and continuing to gain crucial points in the championship.”
Meanwhile, Ferrari has emerged as a serious threat in the Constructors’ Championship, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz’s one-two finish in Austin cutting the gap to Red Bull to just eight points. Ferrari’s dominance in Mexico last year, with Leclerc on pole and both drivers locking out the front row, makes them strong contenders this weekend.
Sergio Perez, under mounting pressure, faces his home race in Mexico after a string of poor results. Perez, who hasn’t finished higher than sixth since May, needs a strong performance to aid Red Bull’s Constructors’ fight and support Verstappen’s championship lead. “The important thing is to shut out the noise off track and focus on the job,” Perez said, hoping the energy from his home crowd will boost his form.
However, with Ferrari looking stronger than ever and McLaren eager to close the gap, Perez faces a tough challenge to secure a podium. Questions surrounding his future persist, despite his contract extension through 2026.
Elsewhere, Mercedes is eager to bounce back from a difficult weekend in Austin. Team principal Toto Wolff remains optimistic about the car’s potential. “Our performance in Texas showed that there is inherent performance in the car. Our challenge is extracting this consistently,” Wolff stated. Mercedes will also showcase Kimi Antonelli in the first free practice session, stepping into Lewis Hamilton’s car as the seven-time champion prepares to move to Ferrari in 2025.
Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, will reach a historic milestone in Mexico as he becomes the first Formula 1 driver to compete in 400 grands prix. At 43, the double world champion remains competitive and hopeful for more races to come, acknowledging the significance of his achievement: “I don’t think I’ll be adding another 400, but hopefully I’ve got at least another 40 or 50 more races to come.”
As the season enters its final rounds, all eyes will be on Mexico to see if Verstappen can extend his lead or if Norris, Ferrari, or even Perez can disrupt the reigning champion’s momentum.
