LEWIS HAMILTON is going in all guns blazing this weekend in his pursuit for F1 Championship glory as the drivers make their way to Mexico. The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City will host proceedings over the next couple of days as Hamilton looks to chase down title rival Max Verstappen.
TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1
FP3 – 5pm GMT
Qualifying – 8pm
Race – SUNDAY, 7pm
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
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WOLFF ROARS
Red Bull boss Christian Hornerblasted Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff for suggesting that Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen’s title battle could be determined by an unsporting crash in the same fashion as Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
“I was disappointed to read comments condoning this, we want a fair fight between now and the end of the season. Any driver would want to win it on track.
“We are a racing team and aiming to win the constructor title and we also want to pull off the feat without a collision between our drivers.
“Austin [a nail-biter won by Verstappen a fortnight ago to give him a 12-point lead] was a great race and we want a few more Austins before the end of the year. Nobody wants this decided in a gravel trap.”
LEW LOSE
MERCEDES DTM boss Hubert Haupt wants Max Verstappen to win the F1 World Championship over Lewis Hamilton.
Verstappen, 24, leads the Brit by 12 points with just five races to go.
Should Verstappen become champion, it’ll be Red Bulls’ first since 2013, and it would end Mercedes’ seven-year domination.
And Haupt thinks ‘it’s time’ for someone other than Hamilton to be top of the F1 mountain.
Haupt competes in the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) championship with three Mercedes cars for HRT, the team he owns.
He told Sport1: “I think it’s time for someone other than (Lewis) Hamilton to become world champion.
“In terms of Formula 1, it would be huge for Red Bull to win the title, so I hope Verstappen manages it.
“There are still a few more circuits that suit Mercedes, but if Max scores well in the next two races, he will have the nerve to hang onto it.”
DRIVER’S SKILL
Red Bull chief Helmut Marko believes it will be down to the drivers in Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to win the F1 world title in 2021, not the car.
When asked if the car or the driver will decide the world title, Marko told Auto Motor and Sport: “The driver.
“First of all, both teams have to be as flawless as possible – something neither Mercedes nor we have succeeded so far.
“The mistakes in terms of strategy, preparation and pit stops have to be minimal, so the whole package has to be right.”
HAMILTON PRESSURE
Fernando Alonso reckons Lewis Hamilton will fold in the race for the F1 world title against Max Verstappen.
Verstappen leads Hamilton by 12 points going into the Mexican GP this weekend and Alonso reckons Hamilton may not be able to handle the pressure.
He said: “Do I think Lewis will succumb to the pressure? Yes, thanks to Max. 100 percent.
“When Lewis only has to fight with his team-mate Valtteri Bottas for the title, everything is great. Now he feels some pressure and he gets into trouble.”
HAMILTON’S PASSION
Lewis Hamilton is ready to give it his all to catch up with rival Max Verstappen ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix.
Verstappen leads seven-time world champion Hamilton by just 12 points with five races to go.
And Hamilton said before the race: “We’re giving it absolutely everything we’ve got.
“I think they’re [Red Bull] just quicker than us at the moment.
“I’ve got no real concerns. [We’re] just chipping away at our setup and just trying to improve it. But we’re lacking downforce which is definitely, [or] probably why we have the half-second difference between us.
“It’s looking good for us to be able to try and battle with these guys, but they’re definitely too quick for us at the moment.”
FORCE FIELD
Nico Rosberg was ready to make a shock return to the track last season as cover for Lewis Hamilton.
But the former world champ has revealed the physical demands of driving an F1 car made it impossible for him to try.
Rosberg told Jenson Button on his YouTube channel: “I would definitely have considered picking up the phone there.
“But I physically would not have been able to. No way.
“I would not manage more than two laps with that car. My arms would solidify rock solid, my fingers… I wouldn’t be able to hold the steering wheel anymore after two laps, I am sure.
“Not to speak of the neck falling between my legs when I’m braking, because I wouldn’t be able to hold my head up!”
GOOD MORNING RACE FANS
Hope you enjoyed FP1 and FP2 yesterday – now it’s time to get down to the real business.
Qualifying comes at you from Mexico tonight as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton grapple for one of the most important poles of the season.
SunSport will bring you all the drama as it happens, so stay tuned throughout the day before FP3 at 5pm.
Lights out.
FULL RESULTS FROM FP2
Work to do for the world champions.
FP2 IS DONE – VERSTAPPEN LEADS THE WAY
He tops the session. Bottas in P2 and Hamilton in P3.
It will be a long night in Brackley as they figure out the set up changes in the hope of making progress on Saturday.
But Hamilton is not happy with the balance of his car. He’s 12 points behind Verstappen in the championship.
He could be cut further adrift if Verstappen wins for a ninth time this season this weekend.
HONDA POWER
All good for the Japanese engine at high altitude
FIRST SIGN OF REAL PACE AND RED BULL ARE AHEAD
Not only ahead, but by a long way. Verstappen leads Bottas in Mexico.
PROBLEM FOR RUSSELL
He has a gearbox issue and is out of practice while his Williams is being dismantled.
RED BULL P1 AND P2
Good start from the Red Bull boys, some early quick runs.
BUSY TRACK
Lewis Hamilton is getting caught in traffic. Hardly surprising, traffic is terrible in Mexico City at times.
GREEN LIGHT FOR FP2
We are go in Mexico City for second practice. Expect more running in this second session, as the ever-popular long runs take place.
FLAG IS OUT – FP1 IS OVER
Bottas, Hamilton, Verstappen, Perez
Looks a close race between the top two teams and their four drivers. All delicately poised.
BOTTAS LEADS THE SESSION
Hamilton second and Verstappen is third.
HAMILTON WILL BE INVESTIGATED
The world champ will be quizzed by race stewards in Mexico after failing to adhere to track limits.
At the dusty Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Hamilton went straight on at Turn 1, causing him to run across the grass before rejoining the track at Turn 3.
Hamilton said on the radio that he “couldn’t slow down there” but the stewards want a word.
PEREZ IS BACK ON TRACK
A new wing has been fitted on his Red Bull and is making up for lost time.
30 MINUTES GONE IN THE SESSION
Hamilton tops the timesheets. Verstappen is in second place.
RED BULL HAVE A BIG JOB ON THEIR HANDS
Perez is out of his car, the team are now repairing his car in time to get back out on track.
Not what he needed in his home race.
BIG DAMAGE FOR PEREZ
The Mexican driver has done exactly the same as Leclerc. Coming through the stadium section, they lock up and go into the barriers.
Slightly more damage for the Red Bull man, who is back in the pits.
Virtual Safety Car deployed why the damage is cleared up.
SPIN FOR LECLERC
He’s lost control in the final sector and damaged the back of his Ferrari. He’s ok but that car will need fixing.
INCREDIBLY DIRTY TRACK
No race at this venue for two years due to the pandemic – and it shows. Plenty of dust being put into the air.
No point looking at track times yet. Bottas and Hamilton currently P1 and P2.
GREEN LIGHT IN MEXICO – FP1 IS GO
The first practice session is underway in Mexico City. All eyes on the two championship contenders.
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