Verstappen Tops Mexican GP FP2 As Piastri Struggles

Max Verstappen led the second practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap despite missing the first session, beating Charles Leclerc by 0.153 seconds and Kimi Antonelli by a narrow margin. Verstappen's Red Bull, featuring new upgrades, showed strong pace, while championship leader Oscar Piastri struggled significantly, finishing 12th and 0.840 seconds behind Verstappen. Lando Norris performed better than Piastri, placing fourth, though he also faced challenges on the track. Other notable performances included Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli overcoming early technical issues to finish third, and strong showings from Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. McLaren faces pressure as Verstappen's recent wins have narrowed Piastri's lead in the championship, with Verstappen closing the gap to 40 points and Norris trailing Piastri by 14 points with five races remaining. The session highlighted Red Bull's ongoing performance advantage, particularly with Verstappen's continued momentum in the title fight.