by Lawson’s RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the clear winner among Red Bull’s four cars, setting a 1:17.787 lap in the day’s second practice session to finish third.
World champion Max Verstappen managed fourth place in the first training session with a time of 1:18.839 minutes, but had to cancel the second training session due to a problem with his car.
Mercedes’ George Russell led the first practice session with 1:17.998 minutes, while Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was fastest in the second session with 1:17.699 minutes.
Admittedly only in practice, where teams are aiming for more than just lap times, Lawson beating Perez is crucial in the race for a seat in 2025.
At the start of the Grand Prix weekend in Mexico, Perez is 204 points behind Verstappen in the drivers’ standings. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s lead in the constructors’ championship has been taken over by McLaren, which has a 40-point lead at the top.
Although Perez re-signed with Red Bull earlier this year for 2025 with a further option for 2026, the Mexican is by no means a sure thing, especially if he makes the difference to McLaren at the top of the constructors’ championship.
Lawson’s initial confirmation of six races in 2024 is widely believed to be an audition to succeed Perez in the Red Bull car next year. Otherwise he will stay at RB to gain experience until a place in the senior team becomes available.
While Perez finished seventh-ninth for Lawson at Texas, he did so in a car that had accumulated 508 more points than the RB over the course of the season.
It is also understood that despite scoring the most RB points this season, Tsunoda is unlikely to be promoted to Red Bull’s senior ranks.
Tsunoda’s place in the team is largely linked to his ties to Honda, Red Bull’s engine supplier to its two teams.
However, Honda will leave Red Bull to join Aston Martin after 2025, which could see Tsunoda follow if a spot opens up on the team funded by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll.
Drivers will complete a third practice session and qualifying session on Sunday before the Grand Prix begins on Monday (NZ time).
Alex Powell is online sports editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016 and previously worked for both Newshub and 1News.
