Verstappen Poised for Mexico GP Podium Charge

Laurent Mekies, team principal, anticipates a strong performance from Max Verstappen at the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix. Mekies is hopeful that Verstappen can secure a podium finish, and possibly even achieve more, despite starting from fifth place due to qualifying challenges and a grid penalty. He noted that Verstappen's final qualifying lap was significantly impacted by traffic in the final sector, which thwarted his chances for pole position. This improvement is a testament to the team's hard work, as qualifying presented difficulties earlier in the weekend.

Mekies acknowledged that while Verstappen was close to securing pole position based on performance data, the circumstances of the session did not allow for it. He remains positive about the team's pace and potential for the race. Verstappen will aim to maximize his result from fifth on the grid, with a podium being a realistic target. Mekies expressed confidence that if the car maintains its pace, they can be competitive, although he anticipates strong challenges from other teams.