- George Russell crashed out of second practice for the Mexican Grand Prix
- Max Verstappen also had a difficult practice ahead of Sunday’s race
George Russell was taken to the medical centre after a dramatic 180mph crash in second practice for the Mexican Grand Prix – while Max Verstappen failed to set a time as engine problems beset the championship leader.
If Red Bull cannot mend the problem Verstappen will have to take on a replacement power unit. To avoid being sent down the grid by taking on a new engine, it is understood he will instead use an old one in an attempt not to squander ground to his nearest championship challenger Lando Norris.
The McLaren man is 57 points behind Verstappen with five races, including Sunday’s at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, remaining.
Verstappen also encountered engine glitches in first practice. They were thought to be minor, only for them to resurface in the late-afternoon running.
The engine will be taken out and examined to assess what exact action is required.
As for Russell, he lost control of his Mercedes after taking too much kerb at the sweeping Turn 8, sending him crashing into the tyre barrier at the following corner.
Russell, who climbed out of his badly damaged car holding his ribs, was driven away for the medical centre for a check-up. He was released while the session was still going on and returned to the team hospitality area in the paddock.
It was the British driver’s second smash in a week, after a shunt in qualifying in Austin last week. There, he drove from the pit lane to finish sixth.
This crash was a bone-rattler as he bottomed out going over the red-and-white verge, causing a cessation of 24 minutes as the marshals rebuilt the barrier as fast as they could.
A Mercedes spokesman confirmed: ‘He’s physically OK, but it was a significant impact.’
Russell’s team will now rebuild his car, which had its suspension hanging off and its sidepod destroyed, ahead of third practice and qualifying on Saturday.
Carlos Sainz set the fastest time for Ferrari while Norris’s team-mate Oscar Piastri was second quickest. Norris was fifth best, but the session was severely skewed by testing of next season’s tyres.
