“Nothing works” – What’s behind Pink Bull and Max Verstappen’s Mexico GP struggles?

After nothing however first and second locations for Max Verstappen because the F1 summer time break, the Mexico GP weekend is tougher for Pink Bull. 

Though the Dutchman topped the timesheets on Friday, he instantly admitted that the lengthy runs weren’t adequate: “You’re not going to win like this,” he stated. A day later, that evaluation appeared right as Verstappen needed to accept fifth place in qualifying and concluded that “nothing labored” with the RB21. 

That final comment matches with the continuing seek for a greater set-up course between Friday and Saturday’s periods. 

“You’re all the time engaged on that, in fact. However yeah, we tried every thing till qualifying and nothing actually made it higher,” Verstappen stated, earlier than including that one set-up course gave him a barely higher feeling than one other, however the outright tempo didn’t come. 

That will sound stunning at a monitor the place Verstappen has already gained 5 occasions previously, however he sees it in another way: “These have been totally different occasions. Final yr issues did not work, and that is the final reference I’ve. And now issues aren’t working once more.” 

Stella’s idea: Cooling variations between McLaren and Pink Bull 

Naturally, the query arises – what precisely is Pink Bull battling? As all the time, it is a mixture of things, although McLaren workforce principal Andrea Stella supplied not less than one idea on Saturday night. 

“This can be a circuit during which the standard of your cooling system is vital,” stated the Italian. “If you could compromise aerodynamics to realize sufficient cooling, then the lack of aerodynamic effectivity may be fairly speedy.” 

It factors to the truth that the extra groups must open up their bodywork with further cooling inlets, the extra it impacts the aerodynamic efficiency of the automotive. 

Based on Stella, Pink Bull is having to make higher compromises in that space than McLaren – one thing that’s visually obvious from the bigger cooling openings on the RB21. 

“Right here we see the return on the investments that we now have performed for the 2025 automotive on the cooling system itself, the engineering and the know-how,” Stella added. 

Consequently, McLaren appears much less depending on further openings within the bodywork, which can provide the workforce a sporting benefit at venues like Mexico. Stella believes it’s not less than one purpose behind the distinction in efficiency in contrast with latest weeks, though he’s cautious about drawing far-reaching conclusions for the upcoming races. “Mexico will not be a spot, as an instance, to guage a automotive, as a result of there may very well be a cooling implication that may decide the efficiency considerably.” 

Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing

Photograph by: Andy Hone/ LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs

A vicious circle? Sliding and tyres overheating 

Though cooling is undoubtedly a key think about Mexico, Verstappen believes it’s not crucial purpose for Pink Bull’s tough weekend to this point. Throughout his Dutch media spherical within the paddock, the reigning world champion pointed to a different challenge – the Pirelli tyres overheating. 

“I feel we have not been excellent all season with the tyres overheating. And that is really fairly a giant drawback right here. At altitude, in fact, you begin sliding after which the tyres warmth up so much instantly. It would not swimsuit us, that is very clear.” 

It’s a vicious circle to some extent. All drivers are working high-downforce wing ranges, however as a result of altitude, that also produces much less downforce than in Monza. Consequently, mechanical grip turns into extra vital, and it makes it simpler for automobiles to begin sliding as effectively. 

That’s precisely what Verstappen is referring to. As soon as his automotive begins sliding, the tyres overheat – even over a single flying lap. The ensuing lack of grip causes much more sliding, which in flip will increase overheating. It’s a self-reinforcing course of, and in Mexico, it’s significantly punishing.

Helmut Marko, Pink Bull Racing

Photograph by: Mark Sutton / System 1 by way of Getty Photographs

Marko admits: “Possibly we went a bit too excessive with journey top” 

Lastly, a 3rd issue should be talked about: journey top. Verstappen struggled significantly within the second sector, primarily via Flip 9, the place he had a number of moments. Requested what was going incorrect within the few high-speed corners of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Verstappen replied: “Effectively, watch the onboard, flip up the amount, and you may hear what’s taking place there.” 

Verstappen was referring to the Pink Bull automotive bottoming out in Flip 9. Based on Pink Bull advisor Helmut Marko it is the results of going a bit too excessive with the journey top alternative this weekend. “The journey top is essential, however within the center sector we have been maybe just a little over the restrict,” admitted the 82-year-old Austrian. 

Journey top is vital to maximising these floor impact automobiles and sealing the airflow beneath the ground, however going too far brings two dangers: if the plank wears down an excessive amount of from contact with the monitor, groups danger a DSQ; and extreme bottoming compromises the journey as effectively. 

It was that latter that hindered Verstappen in qualifying. Due to Pink Bull’s dangerous journey top alternative, each bump might trigger a second of imbalance – which occurred a number of occasions in Flip 9.

A mixture of all these elements has made the Mexico weekend a harder one to this point for Pink Bull. Marko believes the journey top challenge gained’t be as a lot of an element on Sunday, since drivers go slower via the quick corners throughout a race trim and the automotive runs barely greater. “In fact, as a result of the automotive is greater, and it is extra heavy, so you will not contact the bottom.”

Pink Bull’s motorsport advisor nonetheless considers a podium attainable – however Verstappen is much less optimistic: “The automotive simply is not working, and it will not work on Sunday both. Let’s simply depart it at that.”

If that’s certainly the case, Verstappen is aware of it has penalties for his hopes of a fifth consecutive world title.

“You will have 4 races to go after this after which quite a lot of constructive issues must occur,” he stated. “I stated it earlier than: every thing needs to be excellent from our aspect, and this weekend will not be like that. If we will make it occur [in the title fight], then that’s nice in fact. But when it would not work out ultimately, then it would not. I am not too apprehensive about it.” 

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– The Motorsport.com Crew