(Reuters) – Sergio Perez may not achieve his dream of becoming the first Mexican to win a home Formula One grand prix, despite having the support of the crowd and a championship-winning car from Red Bull. Max Verstappen, Perez’s dominant teammate, is favored to win the race at Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Sunday, given Red Bull’s near-perfect track record this season, having won every race except one.
After Verstappen received boos upon winning in Austin last Sunday, team boss Christian Horner commented, “I don’t think Max is going to get the warmest reception in Mexico, but that’s water off a duck’s back.”
Perez remains optimistic despite his recent poor form, sporting a specially-designed helmet with the slogan ‘Never Give Up’ for the occasion. The 33-year-old driver said, “Mexico is my most important weekend of the season and I can’t wait. We have made some very good steps with the car but didn’t get to fully show our progress due to taking some wrong directions with the setup this past weekend. I am optimistic for this week, we know what direction we have to take now so hopefully we get to show that.”
Regardless of the championships being already decided, Verstappen, who is a triple world champion and has won 50 grands prix by the age of 26, remains determined to win every race. Another victory would put him equal fourth in the all-time lists alongside France’s four-times world champion Alain Prost. It would also break his own record for the most wins in a single campaign (16) and equal his 2021 record of most podiums in a season (18).
Perez, who has won twice this year, has not reached the podium in his last four races and has been consistently beaten by Verstappen in the past 14 races. Verstappen has won four out of the last five Mexican Grands Prix, while Perez finished third in the last two.
McLaren’s Lando Norris is on the verge of equalling the unwanted record of having the most podium finishes without a win. The current record holder is retired German driver Nick Heidfeld with 13 podium finishes, including eight second places. Norris is currently on 12 podium finishes, including six second places.
Mercedes, on the other hand, may have better chances with seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has won in Mexico twice and finished second in Austin last Sunday. However, Hamilton’s upgraded car failed a post-race check and was subsequently disqualified. Hamilton finished second in Mexico last year and in 2021.
In Friday’s first practice, fans will see some less familiar names as teams fulfill obligations to give track time to young drivers. Australian Jack Doohan, son of MotoGP great Mick, will be driving for Alpine, French driver Isack Hadjar will have his chance at AlphaTauri, and compatriot Theo Pourchaire will be driving for Alfa Romeo. Denmark’s Frederik Vesti will take George Russell’s Mercedes, and Britain’s Oliver Bearman will replace Kevin Magnussen at Haas for FP1.
Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ed Osmond
