F1: Battle for the runner-up position arrives at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez | Video

The Mexican Grand Prixtwentieth race of the 2023 calendar of the Formula 1, that is disputed in the Hermanos Rodríguez Racecourse, This weekend hosts the umpteenth opportunity to Sergio Perez (Red Bull) to recover the high level and hold on tight to a runner-up what threatens the British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), while it will also be a new opportunity for some McLaren upwards that remain determined to be the sensation of the end of the course.

As usual, the Dutch pilot Max Verstappen (Red Bull) was imposed last week in the United States GPwith an exhibition in rhythm and strategy, achieving the fifteenth victory of the World Cup and the 50th in his career. However, with the two World Cups awarded to the 'energetics', the Austrian team's main concern is that 'Checo' Pérez maintains the runner-up position.

An objective that does not respond so much to sports as it does to the prestige of the team, since not do a double in the final classification It would be a disappointment for Pérez Mendoza with doubts about his future at Red Bull. And the margin narrows, with only four races remaining. In Austin, as in the three previous GPs, Pérez did not get on the podium, in a desperate last third of the season and below expectations, without being able to avoid the comparison with the Dutchman.

Although this weekend will have the support of the Mexican fans and could achieve his third consecutive podium at the capital's road course, aspiring to win for the first time in 'their' home. In 2022, Verstappen took pole and victory, shielded by a hamilton that now reaches the final stretch withn chances of winning the 'silver' in the World Cup.

The British, disqualified in Austin for modifications to the floor of his car, He has 201 points in the classification, 39 less than Pérez (240)and arrives at a circuit in which He has five podiums and two wins in 2016 and 2019. Already further away and almost without options, with 183 units, is the Spanish Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), who had to abandon the United States GP due to a suspension problem when he was aiming to be eighth.

The two-time world champion is only waiting for 2023 to fade away, after seeing how the drop in the green cars, added to the growth of his potential opponents, has caused high expectations to fade over time. His history with the Mexican track does not invite us to be optimistic for this weekend either, since His best position is ninth place in 2021, only scoring in two of the six GPs held in Mexico.

A priori, the Rodríguez Brothers Racecourse -he has never been on the podium- is not synonymous with good news for a Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) who stood on the podium again in Austin, although not in person, due to the disqualification of Hamilton. The Madrid native, unlike a Leclerc which was also sanctioned in Austin, is going through a good moment in the final stretch, with three drawers in the last five races. Furthermore, since he signed for Ferrari he has finished in the top three on 16 occasions, one more than the Monegasque.

Italians and Germans They should be at the height of some McLaren, who have already ousted Aston Martin like rooms in the Constructors' World Cup, They are the sensation of the end of the course and are determined to wage war at the top. Although the Australian Oscar Piastri had to abandon in Austin, Lando Norris He got on the podium again, the fourth in a row, so in Mexico he could get fifth, something that those from Woking have not achieved since 2011.

Schedules of the 2023 Mexican Grand Prix:
Friday October 27
Free Workouts 1
12:20 to 1:30 p.m.
Free workouts 2
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday October 28
Free workouts 3
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Qualification
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Sunday October 29
Career
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(With information from Europa Press)