Verstappen says Norris’s positioning hindered his final Mexico Q3 run

After Mexico City qualifying, Max Verstappen said Lando Norris’s position near Turn 13 hindered his final Q3 attempt. Verstappen qualified fourth; on that run, he encountered traffic entering the stadium section and locked up into Turn 13.

Verstappen told Viaplay that two cars ahead had already cost him downforce through Turn 12. He said Norris then placed his car on the right, where Verstappen wanted to open up for the hairpin: “You can’t position your car properly, and you also lose your reference point on the right side.”

Verstappen said changes to Red Bull’s car made it feel much better in qualifying than it had in practice, and that Red Bull was in the mix after Q1. He had a one-place grid penalty after a practice clash with Liam Lawson; Verstappen said even a pole-winning time would have left him second on the grid.