Cooling problems can obscure pace
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella warns that you should view qualifying results in Mexico with caution. The air at altitude is thinner. The racing environment is hot. That makes cooling more important than at many other tracks.
If you need more cooling, you sometimes have to open up the bodywork further. That costs aerodynamic efficiency. According to Stella, that can quickly cost a lot of pace.
What happened in Mexico
Lando Norris took pole by a wide margin. Max Verstappen qualified fifth, about half a second slower than Norris. Oscar Piastri was seventh on the grid.
Verstappen had problems with grip and traction. He spoke after practice of a car that got too hot on longer runs. That fits with the idea that Red Bull needed more cooling in Mexico and therefore had to make compromises.
How McLaren benefited
McLaren did not need to make those major modifications. The team ran with relatively closed bodywork. As a result, the car kept its aerodynamics better intact. Stella cites 2025's improved cooling solution as a major reason for that flexibility.
McLaren engineers incorporated many innovations in the cooling system when developing the 2025 car. In Mexico, the team was able to use parts that were already available. This provided an advantage in high temperatures and thinner air at altitude.
Concretely visible
The difference is also visually noticeable. Red Bull ran more vents and louvers on the bonnet. McLaren ran much more enclosed around the engine. Those choices reflect the compromise trade-off between cooling and aero.
Consequences for race and strategy
Qualifying does not automatically reflect the rest of the weekend. Stella expects Red Bull to be quick in the remaining races despite the problems. But in Mexico, the disadvantage could be greater.
Tyre management remains crucial here. According to Stella, the first lap has to be clean. If successful, Norris can take advantage of his strong long runs in the race. Piastri will try to fight back from spot seven.
- McLaren: more efficient cooling system, denser closed bodywork.
- Red Bull: more openings needed, aero efficiency drops.
- Key race factor: tyre management and a quiet first lap.
In a nutshell
Mexico is not an ideal measuring stick for pure speed because of cooling demand. McLaren could benefit from its cooling innovations. Red Bull seems to have had to make a cooling compromise in Mexico. That partly explains the unexpected qualifying distance.
EN 
NL 
DE