P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen conceded that his shot at F1 championship glory was hampered after the Mexico GP, saying that it was “going to be tough” to retain the title.
After the Mexico City Grand Prix, Max Verstappen acknowledged that his chances of winning the Formula 1 championship had suffered a setback, stating that it would be challenging to defend his title. Despite starting fifth on the grid, Verstappen managed to finish third, ahead of Oscar Piastri but behind race-winner Lando Norris, who is now leading the championship standings. A late Virtual Safety Car impacted Verstappen’s opportunity to pass Charles Leclerc and secure a higher position in the race. Even though his victory at the US GP positioned him as the ‘hunter’, Verstappen admitted that not every race leading up to the final round in Abu Dhabi can be flawless, as seen in Mexico. The realization that the Red Bull team’s upgrades do not make the RB21 the fastest car in all conditions could present a challenge, as Verstappen emphasized the need to improve the understanding of the car’s performance across various scenarios.
