Max second quickest after Mexico Friday practice: 'Ferrari too quick'

Published on 26 October 2019 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen finished Friday free practice of the Mexican Grand Prix in second place behind Sebastian Vettel. The German’s Ferrari team mate Charles Leclerc completed the top three. Max’ Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team mate, Alex Albon, finished last, after crashing his RB15.

“Ferrari was too quick”, said Max after practice. “The rest is roughly on the same level but Ferrari are Miles ahead. That’s the way it is at the moment. We can’t make up in the corners what we lose on the straights. We’ll have to focus more on the race and make sure we manage the tyres. Maybe then we can have a good race.”

Under a cloudy sky, the second Friday practice session gets underway. After the usual flurry of installation laps, the first lap times are clocked with Max and Vettel setting the pace.

Just fifteen minutes in, the session is red flagged; Alex Albon loses control of his Red Bull in turn seven and ends in the wall.

Once the track is cleared, the threat of rain prompts most drivers out on track to bank a quick lap time, mainly on the softest tyre Pirelli brought to Mexico City. Eventually it is the Ferraris that set the pace with only Max able to get near to them.

In the final half an hour, the teams focus on long runs meaning the times set earlier are not improved upon. Max completes a further 13 laps on the soft Pirellis before calling it a day and settling for second, behind Vettel.

Mexican GP contest: win an orange Max Verstappen t-shirt and driver cap!