P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren and Red Bull left battling contrasting problems in Mexico City.
McLaren faced challenges with their single-lap pace during Friday’s practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Lando Norris achieved the fourth-fastest time, trailing behind Max Verstappen by 0.251 seconds.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri struggled and finished 12th fastest, 0.840 seconds behind the leader. Both McLaren drivers expressed concerns over their competitiveness on short runs, a recent trend in their performance.
McLaren has not secured a pole position or victory since the Dutch Grand Prix five races ago. Norris acknowledged the team’s need for improvement, especially regarding their single-lap performance.
Despite their struggles, McLaren showed promising high-fuel pace during the race simulations in FP2, which impressed Ferrari. Red Bull, on the other hand, faced concerns over their race pace, with Verstappen highlighting challenges on both short and long runs.
