George Russell crashes in training in Mexico as Max Verstappen hits engine problems

George Russell suffered another high-speed crash when championship leader Max Verstappen complained of engine problems during practice for the Mexican Grand Prix.

Russell, who had previously been leading the standings in practice one, grabbed a curb and hit the barriers at turn nine 12 minutes into the second session.

The incident occurred a week after the Mercedes driver’s accident during qualifying in Austin.

The British driver was taken to a medical center and the 90-minute session, of which an hour was devoted to testing Pirelli’s 2025 tires, was red-flagged for 24 minutes.

We still have red flags here

Russell is taken back to the paddock in a medical car.#F1 #MexicanGP pic.twitter.com/JhpXUul9Ir

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2024

Mercedes later confirmed that Russell had been discharged from the medical center and was fine.

Verstappen complained of an engine problem during Friday’s opening race in Mexico, but Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said between sessions that the team believed it was a “trivial problem”.

However, the championship leader, who is 57 points ahead of Lando Norris in the championship standings, soon began to report problems in the second practice and was quickly called back to the pits.

“This noise is very disturbing. This can’t be normal,” Verstappen said on team radio.

He returned to the track but was immediately called upon and was unable to get a lap on the board.

Is this session over for Verstappen?

The World Champion is out of the car and has no time on board.

Apparently all is not well with car #1… #F1 #MexicanGP pic.twitter.com/4vzR9ljIsm

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2024

If the three-time world champion is forced to buy a new power unit by the end of the season, he will be subject to a starting penalty.

Title hopeful Norris missed first practice when Mexican debutant Pato O’Ward was driving his McLaren. Russell set the fastest time ahead of Carlos Sainz, while Verstappen was fourth – more than eight tenths off the pace.

Norris returned to the wheel in second practice, and by the end of the session on a set of medium tires he had moved his McLaren to fifth place. Sainz topped the charts ahead of Oscar Piastri and Yuki Tsunoda.

Second session times were difficult to judge given that the vast majority of tires were run on prototype tire compounds for the Pirelli test.

There was another high-speed accident on Friday’s opening stint of the race when Alex Albon collided with British teenager Oliver Bearman.

The Williams driver lost control of his car when Bearman slowed to the outside to allow him to pass into Turn 10, understeering into the Ferrari’s front wheel at high speed before crashing into the barriers.

Albon quickly blamed Bearman for the unusual training incident, calling the 19-year-old an “idiot” over team radio.

It’s impressive

Albon hits Bearman’s Ferrari at high speed, hits the left front and goes into the wall

Both cars will no longer take part in the session.#F1 #MexicanGP pic.twitter.com/rPgYMh7G0w

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 25, 2024

Bearman, who has competed in two races for Ferrari and Haas this season, was removed from the session when Albon was whisked away by a medical car, with Williams later confirming their driver was OK.

Williams wrote on X: “Most importantly, after today’s incident in first practice, both drivers are feeling well.

“Alex caught Ollie in an awkward spot on the track, with limited options due to a slow-moving vehicle in Alex’s line of sight.”