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The 2024 F1 Mexican GP will be the second race of the triple-header as the season comes to a close. Things have started heating up in the championship as the race in Austin showed how much of a mental edge Max Verstappen enjoys over Lando Norris.
The Dutch driver is now 57 points ahead with just 5 races left, and the equation that looked a bit dodgy going into Austin looks much better now. However, the race in Mexico has its challenges.
The higher altitude could contribute to attrition in the race and the variance in the generic pecking order for power units. With that being said, the pecking order is also quite intriguing as it continues to fluctuate week in and week out.
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The race in Mexico is crucial for multiple reasons, with the biggest being that the championship picture and the general momentum more or less are sealed with what happens this weekend.
With that being said, what can we expect from the F1 Mexican GP? Let's find out in our predictions for the weekend.
#5 Sergio Perez might struggle yet again
It is a bit of a surprise for sure but Sergio Perez's record at his home race is not that impressive. The Mexican has had a poor record against his teammates and with Max Verstappen in the other car for the last few years, it's not going to get better anyway.
This weekend, he would once again be in a Red Bull that he's not comfortable in, which could impact his final result. Furthermore, one also cannot rule out the F1 Mexican GP this weekend being his last home race.
#4 Alpine could potentially be a top 10 contender
Alpine's biggest weakness, other than the less-than-accountable management structure, was its power unit. The team has fallen back on that count by a large amount.
At the F1 Mexican GP, the power unit deficit does go out of the window because the Renault PU has shown an ability to work brilliantly at high altitudes. Gasly's upgraded car did make it to Q3 in Austin and a top 10 finish is not out of the picture.
#3 Red Bull would be the third-fastest car
Red Bull did surprise quite a few with its frontrunning pace in Austin on Friday and Saturday, but by Sunday it felt as if the car had taken a step back. The upgraded floor that has focused on improved balance has certainly been a step up, but in terms of pure performance, Red Bull is still behind McLaren and Ferrari.
The F1 Mexican GP might just be another race where the driver might have to be content with just damage limitation.
#2 Unlike Austin, the race in Mexico might not be the most action-packed
The race in Austin was surprisingly interesting even though it was not for the lead of the race but for the final spot on the podium. With that being said, what works on a track like Austin doesn't work in Mexico.
The track has not produced many nail-biters over the years as overtaking is not the easiest. In terms of action, there's a chance that fans might be a bit short-sold on this one.
#1 Charles Leclerc wins the F1 Mexican GP
Looking at how both Ferrari and Red Bull have performed at tracks like Baku, Austin, and Singapore, it looks like it's going to be a battle between the two once again.
One could almost predict a Lando Norris pole position with the Ferrari duo securing the second row, followed by the typical Mexico lap 1 where the second row uses the massive slipstream to take the lead early and then manage the race from there. We're backing Charles Leclerc to make it 2 wins in two races for Ferrari at the F1 Mexican GP.
