Max Verstappen with "a good feeling" as Sergio Perez targets Red Bull front-row lockout

Verstappen Mexico 2021 — Photo: © LAT Images

Mexico City Grand Prix

Verstappen with "a good feeling" as Perez targets Red Bull front-row lockout

Verstappen finished half-a-second clear of Lewis Hamilton

Ian Parkes

Saturday 6 November 2021 00:04

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez head into qualifying for the Mexico City Grand Prix with sights set on leaving Mercedes trailing.

Verstappen did just that in second practice at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez by finishing an impressive half-a-second quicker than F1 title rival Lewis Hamilton.

Whether Mercedes has anything in hand remains to be seen, but at a high-altitude circuit known to favour Red Bull, it already appears Verstappen's race to lose as he seeks to extend his 12-point advantage over Mercedes' Hamilton.

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"It was quite a good day," said an understated Verstappen. "Of course, I was trying to improve the car, trying to make it feel better, although in FP1 the track was very dirty so in FP2 it was nicer.

"But the car is working quite well. There are a few things to look at but overall, pretty good."

Asked whether there was more to come, he replied: "It's always difficult to tell. We're never happy, we always try to improve.

"We have a good feeling but tomorrow we need to be there as well. We'll look into a lot of things but it's a positive start to the weekend."

Perez upbeat after 'crash' start to home race

Team-mate Perez, meanwhile, suffered an ignominious start to his home race when he ripped off half of his rear wing following an early crash into a barrier coming out of the stadium complex in first practice.

Whilst compromised to a certain degree, Perez bounced back to finish fourth quickest at the end of the day, just 0.061s behind Hamilton.

"It was a shame we damaged the car and we gave the boys a bit of extra work," said Perez. "Other than that it was a positive day.

"I'm feeling more comfortable on the long run than over one lap so I think there is potential to improve the car over one lap."

Looking ahead towards qualifying, he added: "My engineers say it's going to be very close tomorrow with the Mercs so hopefully we are able to lock out that front row.

"This was not a representative day. Tomorrow everything will be a lot closer so it will be interesting to see."

As to whether he could clinch pole, he replied: "That will be my target."