The Formula 1 race weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez presents a unique challenge for Max Verstappen and the Red Bull Racing squad. Known for its exceptionally long run down to the first corner, the race start in Mexico always serves as a critical turning point for the entire Grand Prix. However, rather than heading into Sunday with high confidence, the reigning world champion jokingly remarked that a Le Mans-style running start might be just as quick as their current grid departures.
The underlying issue troubling the Milton Keynes outfit isn't merely the fifth-place starting slot resulting from a grid penalty, but rather a persistent weakness with their clutch and launch procedures throughout the 2026 season. Team principal Laurent Mekies previously admitted that a permanent hardware fix cannot be introduced until next year, leaving the team to optimize their current components as best as they can.
When asked by Motorsport.com whether he feels slightly more confident about the start compared to recent weeks, the Dutch ace gave a blunt response. "No, not really, if I'm really honest," Verstappen admitted, highlighting the ongoing technical hurdles that continue to plague their race weekends.
This frustration echoes his radio outburst during Friday practice sessions, where he humorously suggested an alternative starting method to his race engineer. "I think I could sprint faster off the line. Like, I do the start at the end of the pit lane, disaster. I do another start, another disaster. Why are we not just changing something? Or it is better that I do a Le Mans start, you know? I run, push the car and jump in. And then take off for the race," he said over the team radio.
Reflecting on that remark during a media roundtable, Verstappen laughed off the situation. "Maybe we should really do that. I think it would be just as quick!" While delivered with a sense of humor, the underlying concern remains very real as Red Bull aims to salvage a strong result from the fifth grid slot during Sunday's main event.
Read our in-depth analysis, live updates, and complete paddock coverage right here on Sportrik.
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