The Mexico City Grand Prix should offer a fairly intense spectacle, especially after the lights have gone out where the Mercedes in the front row will compete with Red Bull Racing.
There was a bluff from Mercedes in the quest for this pole position in Mexico. What about the rest of the hallway noise in the F1 paddock?
Mexico, the indiscretions of the paddock
Albon coached Tsunoda
Former Red Bull driver Alex Albon has taken on a coaching role for AlphaTauri rookie Yuki Tsunoda. “I progressed quite slowly. I realized how much Formula 1 is different from other racing categories. If you try to rush into Formula 1, things can go wrong. I hope I can keep improving. at the rate that I have reached now “ Tsunoda said in Mexico.
“It’s true”, confirmed team boss Franz Tost when asked if Albon had taken on a coaching role. “Alex came to support Yuki, discuss with him, explain the track to him, whatever Yuki asks”, said the leader of Alpha Tauri. “I think it’s pretty positive for Yuki, because he’s getting a lot of knowledge from Alex.”
© Red Bull Racing – Alex Albon (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
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Bottas’ teammate known after Brazil
Alfa Romeo could be ready to nominate 2022’s Valtteri Bottas teammate after next weekend’s race in Brazil. Antonio Giovinazzi, the incumbent, admits he has no idea where the team will go. “I don’t know if this is good news or bad news”, said the Italian in Mexico.
“We will make a decision a little later, maybe after Brazil” declared Fédéric Vasseur. “I don’t mean any particular candidates, because every time we do it there’s all this noise in the press. So we better stay calm. We have to make a difficult and important choice, but soon we will decide. , and as soon as that happens, we’ll let everyone know “, did he declare.
Mercedes’ bluff!
Mercedes managed to lull Red Bull into a false sense of security by deliberately sandbagging this Friday. Marko called this a “very good bluff” from the German team. When Lewis Hamilton told Spanish broadcaster DAZN he had “no idea” how Mercedes managed to outperform Red Bull in qualifying, the reporter jokingly replied: “And the Oscar goes to Mercedes!”
“L’Oscar ?” Hamilton retorts not really amused by this remark. “We never hide anything. It was a shock for us.” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner actually agreed, revealing that he believes Mercedes has finally fixed a lingering issue with its engine performance at high altitudes. “We got to see it yesterday”, did he declare. “They definitely solved it. They have good speed in the straights so it won’t be easy tomorrow.”
McLaren denies Audi rumors
Andreas Seidl commented “pure speculation” on claims that McLaren might be ready to ally with Audi if the brand with the rings made it to F1. The Volkswagen group’s interest in entering Formula 1 under new engine regulations in 2026 is no secret, with Porsche linked to Red Bull and another VW brand – Audi – reportedly eyeing McLaren .
“It’s pure speculation”, told Sport1. “I don’t want to comment on this”, he added. “We are very satisfied with our engine partner Mercedes and this partnership should last for several years. It is with them that we are focusing.”
© McLaren / Lando Norris, McLaren MCL35M, leads Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren MCL35M entering corner
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Sainz admits fatigue over this 2021 season
Carlos Sainz admitted that he felt a certain “fatigue” as the 2021 season will continue 3 consecutive races. “It’s pretty extreme”, admits Spanish. “But the week of vacation I took before Mexico allowed me to relax, disconnect, reset and find new energy before heading to those last five races.”
“I came out of a very difficult year, with many hours in the simulator and in the factory as well. I was starting to notice that the fatigue of the season was building up, the intensity it took to fit in and adapt to the team “, he added.
@ Scuderia Ferrari Press Office / Carlos Sainz
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Bottas wins Fangio’s helmet replica
Valtteri Bottas took pole position and receives as a special prize a replica of Juan Manuel Fangio’s helmet. This certified replica corresponds to the helmet used by “El Chueco” during the 1951 season, when he won his first world title at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo 159. To do so, he won the Grand Prix of Switzerland, France and Spain, and has been on five podiums this season.
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