Priestley critical of Mexico: 'On paper Red Bull have small advantage'

F1 News

2 November 2021 at 10:22
Last update 2 November 2021 at 12:02
  • GPblog.com

Although Red Bull Racing have always been the favourites in Mexico in recent years, Marc Priestley thinks that says little about the upcoming race. The battle between the Austrian team and Mercedes is wide open in Mexico.

Battle in Mexico highly dependent on variables

Priestley discusses in a live video on YouTube the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix. Despite the rumours, he doesn't expect any major problems with the Mercedes engines but is slightly concerned that the Mercedes don't normally do very well at the high altitude circuit in Mexico.

"On the other hand, it seems that the track does suit Max Verstappen and Red Bull," begins the former McLaren engineer. "We don't know what the weather is going to do, as that is a massive variable in Mexico. It's a changeable time of year in terms of the weather."

Red Bull only slightly faster on paper

So in terms of weather, it will be a lottery, according to Priestley. The Brit stresses that variables will play a big role in Mexico. "With a face-off between the two cars in terms of standard conditions, you can say - at least on paper - that Red Bull is better than Mercedes."

Priestley concludes from this that Verstappen certainly does not yet hold the better cards against rival Lewis Hamilton. "That's what it looks like on paper, but that's not the way we race. Anything can happen," said Priestley.