Max Verstappen Reflects on the Mexico City Grand Prix and Its Challenges

Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 champion, shared his thoughts on the recent Mexico City Grand Prix, particularly regarding the late Virtual Safety Car (VSC) that occurred during the race. While many drivers might have felt frustrated by the timing of such interruptions, Verstappen took a different stance. He acknowledged that he had previously benefited from similar situations, understanding that racing often involves both ups and downs.

Race Strategy and Performance

During the race, Verstappen managed to close a significant gap to Charles Leclerc during the second stint, showcasing a performance that his race engineer described as "insane." As the race drew closer to its conclusion, he found himself within DRS (Drag Reduction System) range of Leclerc, setting the stage for a potential battle for second place. However, the race took an unexpected turn when Carlos Sainz’s car came to a halt in the stadium section, prompting the deployment of the VSC to safely remove it from the track. This decision effectively ended any chances Verstappen had of launching an attack on Leclerc, as the race only resumed on the final lap after both drivers had passed the main overtaking zones.

When asked about his feelings regarding the VSC, Verstappen stated, “No, not really [frustrating]. Sometimes the safety car has been very nice to me as well in my career. So sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It’s how it goes in racing.” He reflected on how the unpredictable nature of racing can lead to both thrilling moments and challenging situations. Verstappen noted that while he would have enjoyed a more competitive finish, he understood that such is the nature of the sport.

Tire Strategy: A Unique Approach

Verstappen was the only driver among the top eight to start the race on medium tires, a strategy that caught him off guard when he realized that no others had opted for the same. Despite his initial doubts about his competitiveness, he ultimately found himself surprised by his performance. He mentioned, “Personally, I didn’t expect to be on the podium. I think even in the first stint, it was not really looking like it… I do think then when we swapped to the soft and the others were on mediums, it all looked a bit more competitive.”

The switch to soft tires provided him with a noticeable advantage, allowing him to improve his pace relative to his competitors. He acknowledged that while he didn’t match the speed of Lando Norris, who had a strong performance throughout the race, the softer compound allowed him to feel more competitive. “Still not to the level of Lando [Norris] if you take the average of the race, but the soft definitely was a better compound to race on, and it all felt a bit better. Overall, to be P3 has been really good on a difficult weekend for us.”

Challenges at the Start

The beginning of the race proved to be chaotic for Verstappen. He had a promising start but found himself going wide at Turn 1. This early mishap put him in a challenging position as he fought with Lewis Hamilton and subsequently fell behind Ollie Bearman’s Haas car for the initial stint. “It was very hectic, the beginning of the race for me,” Verstappen explained. “We had a very good start and then such a long run to Turn 1, and we were on the outside – three, four-wide – so I had bottoming out on that curb. It kept bottoming out all the way, so I almost crashed into the grass.”

Despite the challenges he faced during the early laps, Verstappen managed to survive the first stint while maximizing the performance of his tires. He noted, “Surviving the first stint, trying to go as long as we could on the tires… Once we bolted on the softs we were a little bit more competitive, a bit happier. It’s been a difficult weekend for us, but to be fighting for P2 with everything that happened in the first few laps, I think it’s still a very strong result.”

Championship Implications

As the race concluded, Verstappen’s performance allowed him to close the gap to the championship leader, now sitting 36 points behind. However, he remained realistic about the challenges ahead, especially with Lando Norris taking over from Oscar Piastri in the standings. Verstappen remarked, “Lost 10 [points] to Lando, if you look at it like that. I said before the weekend, everything needs to go perfect to win. This weekend didn’t go perfect. It’s going to be tough, but let’s see what we can do in other tracks.”

He emphasized the importance of understanding their car’s performance in various scenarios, acknowledging that they were not as quick as they would have liked in certain conditions. “I hope, of course, we won’t experience a weekend like this again, but it still shows that we’re not quick in every scenario. That’s what we need to understand a bit better,” he concluded.

Conclusion

Max Verstappen’s experience in the Mexico City Grand Prix highlights the unpredictable nature of Formula 1 racing. His ability to maintain a level head despite the challenges he faced on the track demonstrates his maturity as a driver. The insights he provided into his race strategy, tire choices, and the impact of safety measures reflect the complexities of the sport. With the championship battle heating up, Verstappen’s focus will undoubtedly be on refining his approach in the races to come, learning from each experience to enhance his competitiveness in the thrilling world of Formula 1.