By Happypal 
When Max Verstappen ended Friday’s second practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix on top, it looked like business as usual for the four-time world champion. A masterclass lap, the best time of the day, the usual dominance from his team, Red Bull Racing.
But beneath the surface, his message was far from routine. He sounded a warning. Because while the headline said “Verstappen first”, the story underneath revealed danger.
Meanwhile, championship leader Oscar Piastri could only manage 12th in the same session — a result that raises more questions than it answers for McLaren.
As the title race enters its final stretch, and with five races remaining, Friday’s outcome at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez offers a snapshot of momentum, but also of cracks in the armour.
The Session: Flash of Pace, Underlying Concern
On the high-altitude circuit in Mexico City, where air is thin and grip is precious, the numbers matter. Verstappen set a best time of 1:17.392, a blistering lap that put him ahead of Charles Leclerc by 0.153 seconds and McLaren’s Lando Norris by 0.251. Meanwhile, Piastri’s time left him 0.840 seconds off the top. Sky Sports+1
On paper, that looks like a straightforward statement: Verstappen back in form, McLaren bleeding pace. But his off-the-record comments told a deeper story — one of caution. He described his race-pace tyres as feeling “like driving on ice”. Motorsport.com+1
In a sport where one-lap speed and race-trim often differ wildly, this mix of dominant lap and race concern could be the kind of clue that defines the next five weekends.
Verstappen’s Warning: Not Just About Speed
Verstappen’s comments after the session were notably restrained for a driver used to dominating. He didn’t frame Friday as “everything is okay” or “we’re back”. Instead, he highlighted a gap on longer runs — the kind of runs that win championships.
“The short run on the soft we managed well … the rest, everything else was pretty bad. The balance wasn’t even off — there was just no grip.” 9jazicsportSPORT ⚽
In essence: yes, we’re fast. But unless we have race-trim, this might not matter. To any rival, that’s a two-fold threat: the speed is there, and the self-critique is there. That is dangerous.
For Red Bull this year, the book on them read: “dominant in short bursts; inconsistent in the long haul”. The upgrades shipped this season have reopened their title fight, but if Sunday’s race pace is lacking, they’ve reminded themselves — and their rivals — of the work still to do.
Piastri and McLaren: Moment of Vulnerability
While the headlines focus on Verstappen’s resurgence, for McLaren and Oscar Piastri the narrative is shifting. The 12th place in FP2 underlines a clear struggle: success earlier in the season has faded into a vulnerable form. The points lead has shrunk dramatically, and Friday’s pace gap highlights the problem. ESPN.com+1
Piastri remained diplomatic after practice — calling his lap “pretty average” and pointing to work ahead. But the margin matters. With the championship fight tight, every tenths of a second count.
It’s not just about one bad session. It’s about what it might signify: upgrades stalling, rivals catching up, confidence dipping. In F1, perception becomes reality. If McLaren’s rival drivers sense weakness, they won’t give any slack.
Why Mexico City Matters in the Title Run-In
Four major reasons make this race weekend more than just another round:
- Altitude & Grip – The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez sits at more than 2 200 metres above sea level. Engines lose power, tyres lose grip. Teams already behind have less margin for error.
- Track Characteristics – Long straights, heavy braking zones, and unpredictable weather make it a race that rewards setup flexibility and driver adaptability.
- Championship Pressure – With five rounds remaining, every weekend becomes a mini-final. Any mistake amplifies.
- Momentum vs Consistency – For Verstappen, momentum is building. For Piastri, consistency is under threat. Friday’s session mirrors that shift.
In this context, topping practice while warning about long-run pace becomes tactically significant. Teams listen. Drivers act.
Technical Deep Dive: The Upgrade Battle
Red Bull arrive in Mexico with fresh updates — an evolved floor, aero tweaks, and suspension adjustments aimed at improving tyre durability. In high-altitude venues, those upgrades matter even more.
Yet even while setting the pace, Verstappen admitted the race-trim still lacked. That hints at one of two scenarios: either Red Bull have hidden pace for qualifying and expect to deal with race issues via strategy — or they truly have a weakness and are aware of it. Both possibilities send signals to rivals.
McLaren, on the other hand, haven’t shown a major upgrade package this weekend and it shows. Their car appears strong over one lap in previous rounds, but the gap to the front on race pace is emerging. And when the car lacks flexibility, drivers feel it. Piastri’s comments about “not surprised with the lap time” reflect that unease.
Driver Mindsets: Form, Pressure and Response
Verstappen: Under The Hammer
For a driver who’s used to leading, Verstappen is now in the pursuit role — which he says is “heavier” in its own way. That tag can motivate or fracture. With speed returning and upgrades coming through, this weekend seems to show the former. But his candour about long-runs suggests he knows the fight is far from won.
Piastri: Championship Lead Doesn’t Mean Comfort
Being ahead isn’t always relaxed. For Piastri, the pressure of leading and the chip on Verstappen’s shoulder mean every weak session becomes a story. A 12th place in practice isn’t just a statistical outlier — it’s a message. Internal belief will now be tested as much as external pace.
Other Rivals: Lando Norris & Ferrari
While the focus is on Verstappen and Piastri, Lando Norris (4th fastest) and Charles Leclerc (2nd) loom. Norris may not have the clear pace of the Red Bull this weekend, but his consistency and McLaren’s earlier midfield strength keep him a live title threat. Ferrari, showing upgrades of their own, can’t be ignored anymore.
What to Watch Over The Weekend
- Qualifying Performance: Can Verstappen convert his pace into pole? If yes, his momentum is serious.
- Race-Trim Metrics: Can Red Bull show stronger long-run pace or will McLaren/McLaren’s rivals exploit the gap?
- Tyre Degradation: High altitude and heavy braking zones make tyre heat and wear critical. Teams that manage tyres best can steal a result.
- Strategy Calls: With upgrades in hand, Red Bull might try bold moves. McLaren may play safe. How will that balance shake out?
- Mental Response: After Friday’s pace gap, McLaren must respond psychologically. Can Piastri bounce back or does the doubt creep in?
Internal Links for Further Reading
- 🏁 Marko Reveals What Lies Behind Verstappen’s Surge in Post-Horner Era
- 🏎️ Who’s Now Favourite in F1’s Three-Way Title Race?
The Bigger Picture: Momentum, Vulnerability and Championship Windows
In F1, championships are rarely won on perfect weekends — they’re won when frontrunners show cracks and challengers capitalise. Verstappen’s lap shows strength. His warning shows vulnerability. Piastri’s 12th shows one moment of weakness in what has been, until now, a remarkably consistent run.
For McLaren, this is a warning. What looked like a controlled march to the title is now slipping into a battle. For Red Bull, the tide is turning — but only if they can confirm the pace over a full race distance.
The Mexico weekend might not decide the title — but it could very well shape the narrative of how the next five rounds play out.
Final Thought
Max Verstappen once more proved he has the speed, but his words revealed what he knows: pace alone doesn’t win championships — consistency, pace over distance, and the ability to absorb pressure do. Oscar Piastri may lead the standings, but Friday’s practice session showed he, and McLaren, must deal with more urgent questions if they’re to stay ahead.
In the high stakes of a five-race run-in, a single session like this matters. The hammer has dropped. Now, who will strike back?