In a dramatic start to the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was struck by engine issues during FP1, leaving the Dutchman with the fourth-fastest time. Forced to make an early pit stop, Verstappen reported, “There’s something wrong with the engine, mate. I don’t know… it’s not behaving nice!” This setback raises concerns for Red Bull, as any ongoing issues could open the door for rival teams, particularly McLaren, to capitalize on their misfortune.
Meanwhile, Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz dominated the session, taking the top two positions and displaying an early edge over Red Bull. VCARB’s Yuki Tsunoda surprised fans by clinching the third spot with a time half a second quicker than Sergio Perez’s Red Bull, as Tsunoda works to prove himself a viable contender for Perez’s seat.
The session was action-packed from the start, with two red flags disrupting FP1. Just moments into the session, debris on the track caused an early halt when rookie Kimi Antonelli, filling in for Lewis Hamilton, ran over it in his Mercedes. Later, a second incident saw Williams’ Alex Albon collide with Ferrari’s Oliver Bearman, who was stepping in for Charles Leclerc. The crash, which happened at Turn 10, forced both drivers out, with Bearman’s Ferrari suffering suspension damage after Albon lost control and swiped Bearman’s car.
Ferrari’s stakes in the Constructors’ Championship are now sky-high as they trail Red Bull by just eight points. Both teams need flawless performances this weekend to keep their title hopes alive.
Five rookies made their mark in FP1, including Antonelli in Hamilton’s Mercedes, Bearman in Leclerc’s Ferrari, Pato O’Ward for Lando Norris at McLaren, Felipe Drugovich for Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin, and Robert Shwartzman for Zhou Guanyu at Sauber.
F1 FP1 Results: Mexican Grand Prix 2024
- George Russell [Mercedes] – 1:17.998
- Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] – +0.317
- Yuki Tsunoda [VCARB] – +0.701
- Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – +0.841
- Nico Hulkenberg [Haas] – +0.906
- Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – +0.960
- Esteban Ocon [Alpine] – +0.998
- Valtteri Bottas [Kick Sauber] – +1.050
- Liam Lawson [VCARB] – +1.095
- Sergio Perez [Red Bull] – +1.096
- Franco Colapinto [Williams] – +1.111
- Kimi Antonelli [Mercedes] – +1.202
- Pato O’Ward [McLaren] – +1.297
- Kevin Magnussen [Haas] – +1.337
- Pierre Gasly [Alpine] – +1.342
- Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] – +1.602
- Alex Albon [Williams] – +1.814
- Felipe Drugovich [Aston Martin] – +1.821
- Robert Shwartzman [Kick Sauber] – +1.990
- Oliver Bearman [Ferrari] – +3.258
As tensions rise in Mexico City, all eyes are on Red Bull to see if they can resolve Verstappen’s engine troubles—and if Ferrari and Mercedes can maintain their lead as the competition intensifies.
