Sainz believes that Russell’s complaint is a common tactic used by drivers when they find themselves behind their rivals. He suggested that it is often an attempt to provoke the stewards into penalizing their competitors for an advantage. He added, “It’s a common practice, almost everyone does it, and George does it frequently.”
While Ferrari held the front row in Mexico, with Charles Leclerc on pole, it was Max Verstappen who took the lead after the first turn, expertly maneuvering his Red Bull past both Sainz and Leclerc.
Sainz struggled to maintain pace during the race and eventually finished fourth. He acknowledged that Ferrari lacks the race pace required to challenge Red Bull, a consistent issue throughout the season. Sainz commented, “It’s been the same throughout the year. We can compete with them in qualifying, even outpace them, but when it comes to the race, we’re usually a few tenths behind, sometimes more, depending on the circuit. It’s the primary weakness of the car, and it’s where we are focusing for next year.”
