Verstappen downbeat after P5 in Mexico F1 qualifying: "The car just isn't working"

Max Verstappen says his Red Bull Formula 1 car "just isn't working" at the Mexico Grand Prix, after qualifying fifth on Saturday.

The reigning world champion reignited the title battle with his third win out of four races in last week's United States Grand Prix, bringing his gap to leader Oscar Piastri down to 40 points.

It left Verstappen with his fate in his own hands, but still requiring a near-perfect final five-race stretch to overhaul Piastri and second-placed Lando Norris.

But the Dutchman hit a first roadblock in Mexico City as he couldn't stop his Red Bull RB21 from sliding around the high-altitude Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, qualifying fifth after his tyres overheated.

Meanwhile, Norris claimed a dominant pole as he aims to take over the lead from Piastri, who will only start seventh on Sunday.

"I think we haven't been very good all season with tyre overheating and that's actually quite a big problem here," Verstappen explained after ending up nearly half a second adrift of Norris. "At this altitude you start sliding and then the tyres heat up a lot immediately. And that doesn't suit us, that's clear."

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

Verstappen and Red Bull had made a lot of progress in recent weeks to get a better handle on car balance and ride heights, but couldn't replicate that due to a lack of bite on the low-grip Mexico surface.

"You can do a lot with balance, but of course that doesn't solve everything," he explained. "For example, in Austin we were also very fast, but if you look at the race, we always have to manage a lot more in certain corners than, say, a McLaren or a Ferrari. But In Austin the car was good, so you can mask that. But here, if you don't even have a good balance, or at least no grip, then it's over.

"I tried all set-up directions and nothing works. Maybe one direction drives a little better than the other, but we were just too slow with that one too."

Verstappen's woes were highlighted by his tendency to slide through the fast Turn 9 left-hander, having to correct massive snaps of oversteer. When asked by Motorsport.com what the problem was, he replied: "Well, just watch the onboard and turn up the volume, then you'll hear what's happening there", suggesting he was bottoming out over the bumps.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko felt a podium spot was still achievable on Sunday, but Verstappen isn't too confident.

"Sure, if there's two cars dropping out ahead of me... There's no point in creating false hope. It's just not going to happen this weekend. And if nothing crazy happens for me, then it won't happen. That's just how it is."

Verstappen is fully aware of the title implications if he turns out right and Norris takes 25 points on Sunday.

"The big problem, of course, is that Lando is starting up front," he nodded. "We're not that far behind Oscar in terms of points, but we knew we had to be perfect until the end. Then this is not ideal, of course."