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  • Formula 1 | Mexican Grand Prix Tip for Home Hero Perez

    Formula 1 | Mexican Grand Prix Tip for Home Hero Perez

    The Formula 1 paddock heads for the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend with little time to digest Sunday’s thrilling race at COTA.

    Sergio Perez heads into his home race needing a positive result amid retirement rumours and quashed reported finishing position ultimatums.

    Perez struggled to make progress in Austin last time out, finishing a distant P5 while teammate Verstappen was once again victorious against the odds.

    The Guadalajara native arrives to a hero’s welcome this weekend, but the Red Bull driver will be under pressure to deliver from an expectant home crowd.

    Mexico should also see the continued resurgence of McLaren, and we are eyeing a strong 8/13 tip for the race.

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    Home heroics

    Six-time race winner Perez is in search of a first podium in four races entering Mexican Grand Prix weekend.

    This weekend presents an ideal opportunity to rediscover his previous form on a circuit where he has twice finished in the top three.

    A track that traditionally suits the Red Bull package – having won four of the last five races – Perez has the tools to repeat his past successes on Sunday.

    Related: Singapore Thrills as Red Bull Struggle

    Expect the Mexican to benefit from Red Bull’s efficient DRS system on Mexico’s 1.2km pit straight.

    This should aid overtaking manoeuvres and increase the potential to progress through the race, should Perez struggle in qualifying.

    Considering these factors, Perez to finish on the podium has a good chance of landing, with William Hill offering odds of 8/13.

    Rival resurgence

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    Away from Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes showed promising pace throughout the U.S Grand Prix once more.

    Lewis Hamilton pushed Verstappen closely to finish second while Charles Leclerc snagged pole, before struggling on a one-stop strategy come race day.

    Controversially, both drivers would be disqualified post race for failing to adhere to the FIA’s floor wear regulations.

    Hamilton will be especially keen to bounce back immediately from this setback, now sitting 39 points behind Perez in their fight for runner-up in the Driver’s Championship.

    Although the seven-time champion has struggled to find success in Mexico, Mercedes appear to have discovered a turn of pace with their latest upgrades.

    Expect both Hamilton and teammate George Russell to fight for podium positions.

    William Hill have a 4/6 shot for Hamilton to finish in the top three.

    McLaren’s mixed fortunes

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    An in-form Lando Norris continued his scintillating run of results with P3 and another podium last weekend.

    Unfortunately for the team, rookie Oscar Piastri retired following damage suffered in a Lap 1 collision.

    A fourth consecutive podium for Norris at a track not especially suited to the McLaren highlights the team’s progress this season.

    Furthermore, Norris appeared to have a pace advantage over Piastri throughout the weekend. This comes after momentum seemed to be swinging towards the Australian rookie in recent races.

    Mexico’s fast, sweeping corners promise to suit the McLaren car. They were particularly strong at similar circuits such as Silverstone and Suzuka.

    With Norris in the best form of his young career and Piastri looking to return to the podium, motivation will be high to achieve a positive result.

    Norris especially will be determined to finally go one better and claim victory, with odds of 20/1 available with William Hill.

     

    Click here to claim a free bet to use on this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix.

     

    Read Next: Mercedes’ Battle Boils Over in Qatar GP Heat

  • Formula 1 | Mercedes Battle Boils Over in Qatar Grand Prix Heat

    Formula 1 | Mercedes Battle Boils Over in Qatar Grand Prix Heat

    The Qatar Grand Prix was plagued by extreme humidity, but it was the Mercedes camp that reached boiling point on Sunday.

    Lewis Hamilton and George Russell collided at the races’ first corner, an accident many felt inevitable.

    Several flashpoints have occurred in recent races between the pair as they battle to secure intra-team supremacy.

    Let’s explore the incident and the impact it may have on Hamilton’s fight for second in the Drivers’ Championship.

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    Teammate turmoil

    The potential for fireworks at the start of the Qatar Grand Prix was high with the Mercedes’ pair lining up second and third on the grid.

    However, the team appeared to ignite the situation further by opting to start Hamilton on the faster, soft tyres.

    The decision enabled the seven time champion to pull alongside his younger teammate off the line.

    Such was his speed, Hamilton found himself challenging for the lead into Turn 1.

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    Unfortunately, not for the first time this weekend, three into one did to go.

    Russell clipped his teammates’ rear wheel as he struggled for space between the Mercedes and Red Bull of Max Verstappen.

    The collision ripped the rear-right tyre from Hamilton’s car, resulting in a race-ending trip to the gravel.

    Radio exchanges that followed were heated as each driver clearly felt the other was to blame.

    Having reflected on this, Hamilton later apologised and took full responsibility for the clash that saw Mercedes fail to capitalise on a huge double podium opportunity.

    The blame game

    Despite Hamilton accepting blame for the Lap 1 incident, many thought Mercedes could have deployed team tactics to avoid a crash.

    By starting one car on softer rubber, it was key to ensure that driver made use of the pace advantage before the tyre life expired.

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    Therefore, had Mercedes requested that Russell did not fight Hamilton off the line, it would likely have benefitted both of their races.

    Related: Hamilton Keen To Continue Season Momentum

    Russell revealed in his post-race interview that this had been discussed before lights out.

    Team principal Toto Wolff has long operated a ‘let them race’ policy among his drivers.

    However, had Hamilton been allowed past Russell and challenged Verstappen for the lead, the Qatar Grand Prix story may have ended quite differently for Mercedes.

    Texas tension

    Both Hamilton and Russell settled their initial radio comments with a post-race handshake.

    There appears to be a level of respect between the British pair. However, the incident will likely be at the forefront of each driver’s mind if they are to do battle when F1 heads to Austin, Texas.

    Hamilton has history of teammate controversy at the circuit. The team will hope there is no repeat of his turn one clash with Nico Rosberg in 2016.

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    From a points perspective, no major ground was lost this weekend in either drivers’ or constructors’ standings.

    Mercedes maintained second place ahead of Ferrari, meanwhile, Hamilton lost bare minimal points to Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in his fight for second.

    As a result, Hamilton leaves Qatar still with a good chance of finishing runner up – an 11/2 bet picked out last week.

    As both Mercedes’ drivers search for a first win in 2023, the potential for further drama promises to continue.

     

    Click here to use a free bet for the United States Grand Prix 

    Claim odds of 11/2 with William Hill for Lewis Hamilton to finish second in the Drivers’ Championship.