Verstappen downbeat: ‘It’s just not going to happen this weekend’

Max Verstappen cut a dejected figure after a disappointing qualifying session at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where he could only manage fifth place.

The Dutchman, who reignited his championship campaign with three wins in the last four races, including last weekend in Austin, admitted that his Red Bull RB21 is struggling at the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, casting doubt on his prospects for Sunday’s race.

The Dutchman has managed to slash his deficit to championship leader Oscar Piastri to 40 points, with Lando Norris just 14 points behind his McLaren teammate. With just five races remaining, Verstappen knew he needed near-flawless performances to keep his title hopes alive.

However, Saturday’s qualifying exposed the limitations of his car on the low-grip Mexican track, where tyre overheating and a lack of balance left him nearly half a second off Norris’s blistering pole position time.

Piastri, meanwhile, will start seventh, giving Norris a golden opportunity to seize the championship lead.

A Car That Just Isn’t Working

Verstappen was brutally honest about his Red Bull RB21’s deficit in Saturday’s session.

"I think we haven't been very good all season with tyre overheating and that's actually quite a big problem here," he said. "At this altitude you start sliding and then the tyres heat up a lot immediately. And that doesn't suit us, that's clear."

Despite recent improvements in car balance and ride height, the reigning world champion could not translate that into pace on Mexico City’s low-grip surface.

"You can do a lot with balance, but of course that doesn't solve everything," he explained.

“For example, in Austin we were also very fast, but if you look at the race, we always have to manage a lot more in certain corners than, say, a McLaren or a Ferrari.

“But In Austin the car was good, so you can mask that. But here, if you don't even have a good balance, or at least no grip, then it's over.

"I tried all set-up directions and nothing works. Maybe one direction drives a little better than the other, but we were just too slow with that one too."

Onboard Woes and a Grim Outlook

Verstappen’s struggles were particularly evident in Turn 9, where he repeatedly slid and overcorrected, sometimes bottoming out over the bumps.

"Well, just watch the onboard and turn up the volume, then you'll hear what's happening there," he quipped, referencing the massive snaps of oversteer.

Even with podium possibilities theoretically open, Verstappen was candid about his chances.

"Sure, if there's two cars dropping out ahead of me... There's no point in creating false hope. It's just not going to happen this weekend. And if nothing crazy happens for me, then it won't happen. That's just how it is."

• Mexico City Grand Prix - Qualifying results

He also acknowledged the championship implications, particularly with Lando Norris starting on pole.

"The big problem, of course, is that Lando is starting up front," he noted. "We're not that far behind Oscar in terms of points, but we knew we had to be perfect until the end. Then this is not ideal, of course."

Never Count Max Out

While Verstappen’s tone is defeatist, his record suggests caution for rivals. Even on tracks where he appears off-pace, the 68-time Grand Prix winner has repeatedly turned difficult situations into race-winning performances.

With Red Bull’s strategic acumen and the RB21’s potential, a dramatic comeback is always within reach – a reminder that in F1, no great champion is ever truly out of the fight.

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