Mexico's thin air puts Red Bull's improved balance to the test

Mexico's altitude and layout pose a fresh test for Red Bull's RB22. After two consecutive wins in Malaysia and Singapore, Max Verstappen finished third in Austin. He said the Baku updates had made the car more balanced and predictable; in Austin, he said it was not fastest in either the fast or slow corners and described its race performance as average.

At the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, more than two kilometres above sea level, thin air gives the power unit less oxygen and significantly reduces aerodynamic downforce. Teams run high-downforce settings but still have less aerodynamic grip than at lower-altitude circuits. The 2026 engine rules add another complication: the MGU-H has been removed, so the turbo no longer receives electrical support and must work harder to deliver enough air to the combustion engine. How well Red Bull manages that extra workload could affect reliability and cooling, as well as how power is delivered out of corners.

Large sections of the circuit were resurfaced for 2026, leaving grip and tyre warm-up uncertain going into the weekend.

The layout calls for a compromise. The long start-finish straight rewards top speed, but time gained there can be lost in the corners. The slow stadium section puts a premium on mechanical grip, while the fast S-bends require stability and drivers to attack the kerbs. Pierre Waché, Red Bull's technical director, said in Singapore that the team was making progress on kerb handling but was not yet where it wanted to be.