Verstappen on pole ahead of Russell. Sainz 5th – Corriere.it

Insatiable appetite, Max Verstappen
he also takes pole in Mexico and has the opportunity to reach 14 wins in a single season, an absolute record. The Dutchman burned the two Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. But above all Perez, who plays at home. Ferrari suffers from vertigo at high altitude on the track named after the Rodriguez brothers, 2,200 meters above sea level. Abrupt crash for Leclerc, seventh behind Bottas – the real surprise of these qualifications is the Finn from Alfa – and his teammate Sainz. Mexico City is confirmed as a trail full of technical traps. The engines strain harder, especially the turbo and the cooling system, and with the thin air getting the right level of downforce becomes more difficult. Packages similar to those of Monte Carlo are used, a very slow and completely different route, the search for the set-up is a puzzle.

Ferrari went off-road and accused other problems as well, Binotto explained that Leclerc had a trouble with the mobile wing, it occurred during the last qualifying session, Q3. «Something strange happened – admits Charles – we were losing on the straight. There was something strange about the engine ». As for Sainz, however, «the car was really difficult to drive. We lost a lot of performance and putting together a lap was very difficult ».

Mercedes, on the other hand, solved the puzzle by bringing updates to the bottom and a particular front wing that had been discarded in Austin for doubts about the legality and then modified for this GP. But it is also the characteristics of the track that reward the design philosophy of the most disappointing Mercedes in recent years, still at zero victories.

The controversy following the decision of the FIA ​​on the overrun of Red Bull’s 2021 budgets is making noise. Disappointed the rivals, the penalties (fine and 10% cut of the hours in the wind tunnel) are considered too soft. Toto Wolff, Mercedes: Laurent Mekies, Binotto’s deputy at Ferrari: «Having exceeded the ceiling of almost two million is not a small violation, it is worth two tenths. We cannot be happy with the penalty, moreover there was no reduction in the budget cap but a simple fine. What they lose thanks to the limitations in the wind tunnel they will be able to recover elsewhere, on the lightening of the car for example ». Andreas Seidl, McLaren: «I’m tired of hearing the tales of Red Bull about draconian measures, the truth is that the penalty is too light compared to the infringement».