P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has not had a smooth start to the Mexican Grand Prix weekend.
During the Mexican Grand Prix practice session, Max Verstappen encountered several issues with his Red Bull car, starting with sustaining floor damage and facing an engine problem that ended his FP1 session prematurely. Helmut Marko described the floor damage as serious, attributed to debris from signage over a bridge, but Christian Horner clarified that the team had fixed it. The engine problem was identified as an air leak, promptly resolved before FP2, being utilized as a Pirelli 2025 tyre test. However, Verstappen noted a peculiar noise from the car upon returning to the track and also reported a brake issue before George Russell’s crash necessitated a red flag for barrier repair. Russell’s high-speed accident resulted in a medical evaluation, with Mercedes indicating a substantial impact, leading to a lengthy pause before racing resumed. Subsequently, Verstappen was instructed to pit due to recurring issues and was observed exiting the car, removing his helmet.
