Max on P19 after first day in Mexico: 'A day to forget'
Published on 26 October 2024 by Florence Cobben
After Max Verstappen finished the first free practice in Mexico in fourth, the second session went from bad to worse. Max was beset by engine problems, and ended the session in P19 without having set a time. Carlos Sainz in his Ferrari set the fastest time, followed by Oscar Piastri's McLaren and Yuki Tsunoda's RB. On the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez track, Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari and Lando Norris in his McLaren completed the top five. Max's Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate, Sergio Perez, set the ninth fastest time.
"From the engine side, we are checking", Max offers after his second free practice. "I don't know exactly what it is".
Max elaborates: "From my side, a very useless day. I did about four or five laps, not much to read into for the moment. A day to forget."
This second training takes a half hour longer than usual, as the Pirelli tyres are being tested for next year. All the drivers and teams have to drive a specific programme outlined by the Pirelli engineers.
As the lights at the end of the pit street go green, Lando Norris is the first to go onto the track. During FP1 he had to pass the keys to his car to Patricio O'Ward. Charles Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, Guanyu Zhou and Lewis Hamilton also did not take part in FP1 and set their first lap times in this session.
Williams is still busy on Alex Albon's car, following his crash with Oliver Bearman, who took Leclerc's car for a spin in FP1. Max makes his way onto the track and complains over the radio that there are strange noises coming from the engine. He is told he can carry on driving, by after another radio from the world champion that the sound is not normal, he is given the sign to head into the pits.
After a quarter hour George Russell causes a red flag. The Brit went off track fast in turn eight and ended up in the barries in turn nine. He was dirivng a set of test tyres. He is escorted out of the car and brought into the medical bay. The crash was intense, but Mercedes reports later via X (formerly Twitter) that Russell is alright.
The track is frozen for a long time, but after 54 minutes the cars head back out onto the track. Sainz shoots to a new fastest time. With just 50 minutes to go, Max makes his second appearance on the Pirelli test tyres. Halfway through his fastest lap he is told to come in - his engineers citing the same problems as before. His session ends for the day.
With just half an hour to go, the team confirms Max is done for the day, as his engine problems have to be investigated. Mercedes also announces Russell has been discharged from the medical bay and is back with the team.
Williams also has good news to share - in the closing moments of the session Albon manages to set a couple of laps. It's on that note that the second Mexican free practice ends.
Contest GP Mexico: win a by Max Verstappen signed Red Bull Racing cap!
